Sometimes things happen at the right time. I don't usually choose silly movies, and if I had read the synopsis I am not sure I would have rushed out to see Saving Silverman. But luckily, in the line of duty, I decided to see it. It had been a bad day. My divorce was not going well, my computer was acting up, I had forgotten to pay a bill, and well....we all have those kind of days.

Although I did not realize it yet, I needed an escapist movie. I needed to laugh and be entertained. And I left feeling a lot happier then when I walked in the theatre. This movie is much better than psychotherapy at about a tenth the price.

So if you are having a bad day, think of this movie as a great antidote.

Darren Silverman (Jason Biggs), Wayne Le Fessier (Steve Zahn) and J.D. McNugent (Jack Black) have been best friends since the fifth grade. From grade school (when they were all picked on), to high school (when Wayne played on the football squad, J.D. was the team's mascot and Darren was its star cheerleader), to today (rocking side by side in "Diamonds in the Rough," their Neil Diamond cover band), these guys have always stuck together. Now, enter Judith (Amanda Peet), a great-looking but cold-hearted and manipulative psychiatrist who digs her claws into sweet-natured Darren, snatches him from the friendship. . . and even breaks up the band.

First, J.D. and Wayne attempt to distract Darren by reuniting him with his high school love, Sandy (Amanda Detmer), who in only a short time plans to take her religious vows and become a nun. But the stranglehold Judith has on Darren is too strong. In a desperate and hilarious last-ditch attempt to save their friend from Judith's grip—and after receiving some ill-advised help from their take-no-prisoners high school football coach (R. Lee Ermey)—Wayne and J.D. kidnap Judith and fake her death, leaving Darren free to fall for Sandy.

Judith, however, doesn't stay down for long. Demonstrating cunning and kickass karate moves that leave her captors in the dust, Judith escapes and pulls Darren back under her control.

But just before the contentious couple takes their wedding vows, a hero arrives in an unexpected form—Neil Diamond, in his first film in 20 years, who is recruited by J.D. and Wayne to help save the day.

It sure saved my day.

About the author, Madelyn Miller: Madelyn Miller is a member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association. She adores art house and foreign films and seems drawn to anything with a travel theme. She never met a film festival she did not like. Although she travels as executive editor of www.travellady.com about half the time, when home in Dallas you will often find her in movie theatres. Her film video collection is gradually replacing her cookbook library. Her favorite popcorn is heavily buttered; straight from a popcorn machine in a movie theatre. Chocolate inspires her to write better reviews. Website: http://www.travellady.com

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