Saving Grace

Rating:
Summary: Quaint, entertaining and enjoyable
Review: This droll English comedy kept me enchanted and amused throughout. Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) is widowed by her husband when he takes a flying leap out of an airplane without a parachute. Upon putting their affairs in order, she discovers that he spent all their money and mortgaged the estate leaving her penniless and steeply in debt. In a last ditch effort to save the estate, she hits upon the idea of using her hothouse and her considerable skills with plants to grow and sell high quality marijuana. Thus, the formerly wealthy widow collaborates with her gardener to grow and process the weed and attempt to bring it to market. The results are often hilarious, especially her negotiations with the drug kingpin and the reactions of the local residents.

The film is well directed and written with numerous funny situations throughout. Director Nigel Cole keeps the pace brisk and works well with the actors to produce a good deal of physical comedy laced with comical reaction scenes by various characters. He also treats us to some terrific locations that show off the wonderful English countryside. The acting is excellent, especially by Brenda Blethyn, who is quite humorous as the fish out of water determined to make her way in the drug culture. She has a quality that makes her equally believable as a proper English aristocrat and a common conniver. Craig Ferguson is also good as her partner in crime, a hapless fellow whose harebrained ideas are always getting him into trouble.

The story is not very original, the film having thematic similarities to numerous British comedies of the recent past ("Waking Ned Devine", "The Full Monty"), however one can do worse than imitate the success of these films. I rated it an 8/10. Overall, it is quaint, entertaining and enjoyable. For those looking for a light film that will tickle them, this is an excellent choice.

Rating:
Summary: Hillarious
Review: This movie is absolutely funny, you will laugh to death. It's the story of a woman that goes broke and starts growing marihuana in order to pay her debs.

Rating:
Summary: Can this genre ever fail?
Review: Has anyone ever seen a movie in this genre that has been an out-and-out bad film? I can't, and I've seen quite a few of them. SAVING GRACE was a fun little film. The performers are obviously talented, and the story is captivating enough to hold one's interest. There is a little twist near the end, with the drug dealer, that I didn't see coming. It was a nice change. (Is that the same guy who played Meg Ryan's ex-beau in ADDICTED TO LOVE? Hmm, he looks a lot better in this flick.)

Bottom line: Looking for funny Brits? Rent WAKING NED DEVINE. Looking for quirky Scots? Get LOCAL HERO. Both of those already out? Try SAVING GRACE.

Rating:
Summary: Improbable movie with gut wrenching wit
Review: How could this movie fail? It did - In Britain, for being too British. Then in the US of A, it outperformed all expectations. Objectively, there's something here for everyone. One liners, a plot, originality and so on and so forth. Originality is where the movie's strength lies. The story line is original, with original British accents and it won't alienate anyone or offend too badly. Beware of the climax though as there's a hook in the ending that will catch everyone unawares. Chris

Rating:
Summary: Go see it, it is fabulous!
Review: So funny, so cute, so enjoyable ...worth seeing twice to pick up all the jokes and the older ladies getting high from drinking the "tea" is just out of this world hilarious.

Rating:
Summary: Sublime
Review: I loved it. Funniest Movie of the year.

Rating:
Summary: A simple surprise of a movie
Review: The setting of the movie is in the English province of Cornwall, which is the most southwest corner of U.K. Most of the filming is done in the very small fishing village of Port Isaac. Having visited Port Isaac I can grandly attest the area is beyond beautiful, unspoiled by progress and the people are just as friendly as the characters in "Saving Grace."

Rating:
Summary: Saving Grace- the year's funniest film
Review: Saving Grace was nothing less than an explosion of pure English charm twisted into a crime/ Cheech and Chong comedy that produces an infinite number of smiles afterwards. This was probably my favorite film of 2000. Brenda Blethyn is masterful in her role as the innocent-yet-I-have-no-way-to-save-my-manor-but-grow-weed persona. Craig Fergusen proves that he is more than a sitcom boss in his role as this movie's writer and Grace's pothead gardener. He portrays the very human conflict between youthful exuberence and the necessity to mature (hence quit selling the chronic). Working at a small movie theater, I found myself unable to tear myself away from this film, and I still miss it. Hearing the audience explode at the film's funnier moments (which were quite a number in few) was enjoyment enough. It's a shame not enough people picked up on it.

Rating:
Summary: Great beginning, weak ending
Review: This movie is quite "cute." Lots of chuckles throughout. The premise is wonderful. Characters are very engaging. Unfortunately, I felt that, at the end, the author didn't know where to take it.

I recommend this more as a fun rental than as something to add to a collection.

Rating:
Summary: simply a very good movie in every way
Review: In "Saving Grace" we find genuine characters, a real script/storyline, and lots to laugh about. Grace (Brenda Blethyn) is somewhat short of money and decides to grow marijuana to provide an income. . . take it from there. Nothing is wasted in this one, everyone turns in an excellent performance with Ms. Blethyn (who was outstanding in last year's "Little Voice") really shining. Don't miss this movie--it's well worth your time.