Saving Silverman
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Romantic comedy film |
Saving Silverman, known internationally as Evil Woman, is a 2001 American romantic comedy directed by Dennis Dugan. The movie stars Jason Biggs, Steve Zahn, Jack Black, and Amanda Peet, and features a cameo appearance by musician Neil Diamond portraying himself. The story revolves around Darren Silverman, whose friends strive to stop him from marrying a domineering girlfriend who threatens both their band and his personal happiness.
Plot
Darren Silverman, Wayne LeFessier, and J.D. McNugent, lifelong companions and devoted fans of Neil Diamond, form a tribute band named Diamonds in the Rough.
Following a performance, Darren encounters Judith Fessbeggler, an overbearing psychologist who gradually isolates him from his friends. She insists he quit the band, submit to embarrassing medical tests, and attend therapy sessions under her strict supervision. Despite efforts involving bribery, arm wrestling, and trickery, Wayne and J.D. are unable to free Darren from Judith’s control.
When Darren and Judith announce their engagement—Darren even adopting her surname—the friends resort to kidnapping Judith. After she discovers their scheme, they stage an accident to fake her death. Inspired by advice from Coach Norton while in jail, they contemplate eliminating Judith but ultimately decide against it.
Sandy Perkus, Darren’s high school sweetheart who is on the verge of becoming a nun, returns to Seattle. Attempts to rekindle their relationship fail as Darren remains obsessed with Judith. After an unsuccessful date and Sandy’s return to the convent, Darren chases after her in an effort to win her back.
Judith manages several escapes from captivity, revealing traumatic experiences from her past and seducing Wayne into freeing her. Following Coach Norton’s parole, further attempts are made on Judith’s life; she later catches Darren kissing Sandy and demands he admit to their engagement.
Darren has Wayne and J.D. arrested; however, with Coach Norton’s assistance, they break out of jail to prevent Sandy from taking her final vows. They abduct Neil Diamond and enlist his help to disrupt Darren’s wedding.
During the ceremony, Neil delays the proceedings by performing "Hello Again" while Darren reconciles with Sandy. The hostility between Wayne and Judith turns into romance; J.D., supported by Coach Norton, embraces his true self. The film concludes with three couples marrying onstage at Neil Diamond’s concert as they perform together as a band.
Cast
- Jason Biggs as Darren Silverman
- Steve Zahn as Wayne Lefessier
- Jack Black as J.D. McNugent
- Amanda Peet as Judith Fessbeggler
- Amanda Detmer as Sandy Perkus
- R. Lee Ermey as Coach Norton
- Neil Diamond as himself
- Kyle Gass as Bar guy
- Christopher Logan as Vagee, Darren’s replacement in the band
- Jared Van Snellenberg as Belston
- Dennis Dugan as referee (uncredited)
Production
Saving Silverman is part of a late 1990s and early 2000s wave of comedies centered around grooms trying to avoid unwanted marriages. Jason Biggs described the film as addressing a "universal problem" related to controlling girlfriends. Filming occurred in Vancouver, British Columbia, between June and August 2000 with a production budget of US$22 million. Neil Diamond not only appeared in the movie but also contributed an original song titled "I Believe in Happy Endings."
Home media
The movie was made available for home viewing in two distinct editions: the PG-13 theatrical version and the original R-rated cut. The R-rated edition features extra dialogue, newly added scenes, and some rearranged sequences. On July 13, 2021, Mill Creek Entertainment released a Blu-ray version that presents the R-rated cut; however, it lacks any special features and the packaging mistakenly indicates a PG-13 rating.
Reception
Saving Silverman received an 18% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 103 critic reviews, with negative feedback focusing on its illogical storyline and unappealing characters. On Metacritic, the film earned a score of 22%, reflecting generally unfavorable critiques.
At its North American box office debut, the film ranked third, generating $7.4 million during its opening weekend. It accumulated $19.4 million domestically and $26.1 million worldwide, against a production budget of $22 million. The film opened behind The Wedding Planner and Hannibal.