Review of Saving Grace (2000) by Stuart K — 30 Dec 2012

Directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls (2003), Made in Dagenham (2010) and The Wedding Video (2012)), this is a very funny British comedy, cut from similar cloth to what Ealing comedies were, only this one involves drug taking.

But, it still has an innocent yet mischievous tone about it. It's also a who's who of British TV and film as well, keep your eyes peeled for who appears. In Cornwall, proud housewife Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) has just been recently widowed, her husband had died while at sea.

Then, Grace is told that her husband had no money, and that she'll have to sell her large house. However, Grace's gardener Matthew Stewart (Craig Ferguson, who also co-wrote the screenplay) has a plan.

Matthew likes a bit of weed to get through the stresses of life, and Grace is a dab hand at gardening. They use their talents to use Grace's greenhouse to grow a massive amount of marijuana, and selling it on for a massive amount.

However, time is running out, and it has to be sold before Grace loses her house. She travels to London, finding she has a client in Vince (Bill Bailey) and dodgy French businessman Jacques Chevalier (Tcheky Karyo).

This is reminiscent of Waking Ned (1998), and how small communities have canny locals. Blethyn is charming, while Ferguson has a cheeky charm. Look out for Jamie Foreman, Denise Coffey, Leslie Phillips and Martin Clunes, whose character was the basis for Doc Martin.