Review of Getting Grace (2018) by Corey D — 01 Apr 2018

GETTING GRACE isn't the type of film I would normally go out of my way to see. I was intrigued by the fact that beloved character actor Daniel Roebuck not only co-starred in it, he co-wrote, and directed as well. Many of you will know Roebuck from movies such as THE RIVER'S EDGE, DUDES, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, BUBBA HOTEP, and the list just goes on. I knew GETTING GRACE was a passion project for him so I was curious to see what he would bring to the screen.

Grace (Madelyn Dundon) is an outspoken, quirky, and unique teenager who always seems to manage in bringing a smile to the faces of those around her. She also has a form of terminal cancer and doesn't have a whole lot of time left to live. She crashes a funeral home in order to learn about the process she will have to go through once she passes away. She befriends the funeral director William (Daniel Roebuck) who is a tough nut to crack. As they slowly begin to build a friendship, Grace decides to set a plan in motion. Her plan is selfless and it's meant to bring light and hope into the lives of those she will have to leave behind.

I'm going to get this out of the way right now. This movie will make you cry! I don't tear up very easy but by the end of this thing I was blowing my nose and wiping my eyes, hoping no one saw me. Even though the film focuses on a dying young girl, it's still very much about living, about hope, and spirit. This is the first film for actress Madelyn Dundon and she's just absolutely terrific and the title character. She brings a truly captivating performance and I feel we will be seeing more of her soon. Marsha Dietlein portrays Grace's mother Venus and her character goes through a very interesting arc. One she pulse off with true grace. The film also features cult icons Dana Ashbrook (TWIN PEAKS) and Duane Whitaker (PULP FICTION) in roles very different than what we would usually expect. Daniel Roebuck co-wrote the script with Jeff Lewis and the two of them crafted a story worth telling and Roebuck has succeeded as a director by delivering a film the audience will feel. While it might be a tearjerker, the message is worth hearing. I can see where it could be mistaken as something it's not, but GETTING GRACE deserves to be seen and experienced. It has more heart than most of the mindless drivel being released and hopefully you can walk away with a different and positive outlook on life.