Not to be confused with Saving Private Ryan, this juvenile comedy is yet another in a growing list of bad movies to come out in recent weeks. It's a shame, because upon viewing the trailer, I thought the movie looked pretty funny.

In Saving Silverman, Steve Zahn and Jack Black play buddies who try to save their fellow pal (American Pie's Jason Biggs) from the evil clutches of his new girlfriend Amanda Peet. It seems that Peet is the ultimate puppetmaster, and enjoys running Biggs' life.

Saving Silverman comes across as an improvised mess, that is just painfully unfunny. The screenplay (if there is one) lacks focus, cohesion, and most importantly, humor. It's also pretty misogynistic. Most of the female characters in this picture are either portrayed as nasty vixens or dimwitted morons. Peet (a beauty to behold) runs around in slinky outfits acting like a bitch for no apparent reason. Which is too bad because she's better than this (see her inspired comedic turn in The Whole Nine Yards), and it's hard to figure out why she would want to do this garbage. First Whipped, now this. For the love of God, Peet's agent should pull her head out and get this actress some better roles.

Zahn shows pep and manic energy, but this is simply a variation of things we've already seen him do before. This is definitely a step back for the hilarious Black who was so good in High Fidelity and Jesus' Son. Although this lackluster film is hardly his fault, he should have thought twice about doing it.

Biggs is on the biggest of downward spirals. I'm not the biggest American Pie fan, but it's Citizen Kane compared to Loser and this latest opus. Saving Silverman does have one bright spot. The presence of R. Lee Ermey (the kick ass Marine in Full Metal Jacket). He gives this picture a much needed boost. Finally, I should mention that Neil Diamond of all people, shows up in a cameo. I can only guess he's trying to make up for his universally panned performance in The Jazz Singer.

Saving Silverman was directed by ex-actor Dennis Dugan (The Howling), and he's no slouch in the way of comedy having directed Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy. Alas, no amount of talent could save Saving Silverman, perhaps the worst of the recent parade of sub-mediocre films.