It amazing that one can sit and watch a piece of caca and, if the wind is just right, not smell it. Okay, occasionally there's a whiff, but for the most part, it's inoffensive. And, if occasionally the sunlight glints on it just right, you might think it interesting for just a moment. Of course, a cloud moves, and it's just a piece of crap again. This is what it is like to watch "Saving Silverman." It stinks, but somehow you always feel just downwind of it.

Perhaps it is the talent of stars Jack Black, Steve Zahn, Jason Biggs, Amaznda Peet and director Dennis Dugan to make it so. This is a likable bunch. Biggs is a cutie. Black is insane, Zahn is a card. Peet plays a bitch on wheels with true delightful fervor and Dugan tries anything he can think of to get a laugh. Very rarely, he succeeds. Usually, he simply allows Black and Zahn to just "go for it" and generally they fail him. Of course, the plot they are treading upon is well worn wood floor. There is nothing here to stand upon. It's pointless fluff.

Biggs plays the titular Silverman, part of a triumvirate of chums who act goofy, drink excessively and have a damn fine Neil Diamond cover band. Their version of "Cherry Cherry" is quite awesome. (Of course, Black is well known as a singer and musician in addition to his acting career). Meanwhile, Diamond is held in reverence here as much as he is to ridicule. It's because the participants treat him with such reverence, and are such idiots, that we laugh at the joke. Fans of Diamond will surely giggle with delight at some of the jokes that pepper the last segment of the film, where Diamond appears. Diamond even quotes his own "Love on the Rocks" for a laugh. It's all silly fun but who under 25 would get it?

In the plot, dorks Black and Zahn try to stop "Silverman" from marrying controlling Peet. They even kidnap her to put the kibosh on their nuptials. It's a dumb plot, so Dugan does anything and everything to get a laugh here. Nuns and animals are used for punchlines as much as Diamond. And Dugan even has perennial coach character actor R. Lee Ermey drop his pants, commit manslaughter and kiss another man. Anything for a laugh. This film might has well have been called "Everything and the Kitchen Sink..." Of course, most of it doesn't work. We just don't mind sitting through it.

"Saving Silverman" is slight fun. I can't imagine why anyone would want to see it twice. And yet, it's just the kind of goofy crud I could picture myself buying on DVD. Weird.

Note:

Dugan has a cameo as a referee who gets killed in the film.

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