Saving Grace
Every time I watch Saving Grace, the film makes me smile. There is something so quirky and charming about the story of a small-town widow turning into a large-ish-scale hydroponic marijuana grower after the untimely death of her husband, who has left her in untenable financial circumstances and on the verge of losing her home. Saving Grace is one of those sleepy feel-good movies and truly captures the spring vibes we were going for here at The Film Rewind by choosing this film as our May Film Club Pick.
The lushness of the countryside and emphasis on nature take center stage from the onset of the film as the opening title is blown off the screen in a puff of smoke whilst Matthew (Craig Ferguson) is jauntily singing to himself and the camera finds him, amongst the headstones and lush greenery, digging a grave in a graveyard. Green becomes one of the most important colors in the film, both literally and symbolically. Visually, the mise-en-scène and scenery play up the greenery that abounds in this film, whether it is a picturesque shot of a lush cliffside, Matthew moving the grass, or Grace (Brenda Blethyn) utilizing her green thumb in her greenhouse tending orchids or one of Matthew’s sickly cannabis plants. In a more literal sense, Grace is in desperate need of money, and hilarity ensues when she and Matthew concoct a far-fetched scheme to turn his wilting marijuana plants into cold, hard cash.
What makes this film special, and adds to its re-watchability, are the subtleties of the film’s comedy. Featuring a script by Mark Crowdy and Craig Ferguson, the bulk of the comedy comes from little moments, quick asides, and a healthy dose of stoner jokes, to keep the film feeling fresh and witty even after having been released 20 years ago. Many of the film’s quieter moments can bring the biggest laughs, such as the delightful montage as Grace and Matthew get the grow lights working in the green house, and everyone in the town starts watching the nightly light show in the sky, sitting outside the local pub with drinks and lawn chairs. The concept that everyone in the town, from the shopkeepers to the local law enforcement, knew what Grace and Matthew were up to, but chose to “turn a blind eye,” on account of Grace’s well-known financial troubles, just adds to the overall charm of the film. Who wouldn’t want to live in a town with such an eclectic mix of local characters?
Some of my favorite moments from this film occur with the extended ensemble cast. One of my favorite characters is Dr. Martin Bamford (portrayed by Martin Clunes), particularly with his un-sound medical advice, carefree ways, and utter lack of medical professionalism. This character has even been featured in some spin-off films, and used as the basis or inspiration for the slightly tweaked, misanthropic, and curmudgeonly physician of Dr. Martin Ellingham in the British television series Doc Martin (2004-Present). Even the most minor of characters within Saving Grace can provide delightfully amusing moments. The scene, early on in the film, where Grace tries to give money to charity and the collector refuses to let her put anything in the bin, physically shielding the collection box, and not uttering a single word, is a priceless gem of a comedic moment.
It is all of these little subtle moments that truly make Saving Grace such an enjoyable film. The comedy is pretty timeless, consisting of a quirky blend of eccentric characters, some screwball-ish moments, and some outrageous, yet utterly believable, situations. You could imagine that everything from this film could happen in real life and that each of these characters are roaming around somewhere in a quaint coastal town in Cornwall. What else can I say? I enjoyed this film the first time I watched it (not too long after its release) and still enjoy this film after multiple viewings. Saving Grace has a permanent place in my comedy DVD collection.
– Sarah 💡💲🌱📗
I have seen Saving Grace perhaps a half dozen times. Those half-dozen times were probably within the same week, and this was well over a decade ago, when I was still in high school. After I discovered Craig Ferguson on CBS' The Late Late Show (where he served as host from 2005-2014), I fell in love with his sense of humor and his overall presence as a performer. I went through his filmography to better appreciate his style as a writer, actor, and (in one case) director. I remember Saving Grace as a movie I enjoyed well enough, but it wasn't a film that I felt the need to return to in over a decade. In revisiting the film, I saw what I expected: an overall pleasant (yet flawed) comedy that made me miss the old Late Late Show more than anything.
I love much of the writing of Saving Grace because it has Ferguson's fingerprints all over the script, at least when it comes to the comedic dialogue. Anyone well-versed in his comedy on The Late Late Show can see his style through the wittiness of exchanges, playful comedic reversals, and a mildly sardonic, yet strangely amiable, tone. The best writing in the film comes from the moments of one-on-one banter between Matthew and any other character. Traces of the observational humor of Ferguson's stand-up are obvious at times. Still, the subtlety of the comedy and the delivery by Ferguson and the other actors sell it every time.
At the same time, the film's writing tends to become a bit strange in terms of plot structure and character motivation. For example, I'm not entirely sure why Grace and Matthew suddenly choose to burn their goods instead of going through with the Chevalier sale, when the local policeman has turned a blind eye, and they have the plants all collected and ready for transport. The decision would have made sense once Chevalier's goons arrive, and Grace realizes there's no time to do anything but destroy the evidence, but by the time they do reach her, she's already lit the match, and it makes no sense. Then, there's the supremely annoying storyline of Matthew's girlfriend Nicky's pregnancy, which she spends the entire runtime of the film trying and failing to tell Matthew. She's upset about Matthew's illegal activity, but she continuously hides the information that would probably convince him to give it up. Furthermore, the problem resolves in a most clunky, lazy, nonsensical way, with an apology and the revelation, which should have happened an hour and a half before. And those ending moments! One 'happily ever after' after another to the point that I think it has to be a joke, but I'm not incredibly sure that it is. I want to blame all of these issues on co-writer Mark Crowdy and not Ferguson, but who knows who's really to blame? In short, the writing is very good in substance but often inadequate in structure, and unfortunately, the plot's shortcomings lessen it significantly in my esteem. Whoa. Who'd have ever thought I'd give an iota of care about the plot mechanics of a movie? I don't know if I like this side of me, but there you have it.
In terms of Nigel Cole's direction, I'm about as mixed as I am on the writing. Cole's work with long shots is pretty impressive. He's able to heighten comedic moments with the subjects at a distance from the camera, and at times allows shots to linger a bit too long, which creates a brilliantly uncomfortable hilarity. His close-ups, however, are the stuff of cheesy, grotesque '90s movies. They are often too close for comfort, with that unattractive slightly low angle shot that tends to make my skin crawl. It's a wildly inconsistent style, volleying between sophisticated and repugnant far too often for my taste.
The acting was the one element of the film in which I found no fault whatsoever. Brenda Blethyn brings wit, sweetness, and a lovable naivete to Grace, but also a sadness to the character that can be emotionally devastating. Ferguson's Matthew is charming and natural, as always. He's playing himself in this movie, and that's perfect for me. I also really enjoyed Valerie Edmonds' performance as Matthew's girlfriend, Nicky. Though I had problems with her storyline as a whole, I found her performance as the laid back, yet irritated fishing captain very well done. And the whole rest of the cast, especially the plethora of eccentric characters that inhabit the small village in which the town takes place, each bring their contribution for the audience's enjoyment.
There's not much else to say. Saving Grace is a sweet, funny little film (that is, when it's not ridiculously directed and nonsensically written). It's a good time, but it lacks something to keep me coming back. If I do re-watch it again, it will probably be for one reason. I'll give you one guess as to what (or who) it is.
- Bailey 🐟
What are your thoughts about Saving Grace? Who is your favorite character? What would you do if you found yourself in Grace’s situations? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to check back soon for our June Film Club Pick!
Copyright © 2020 Sarah Crane & Bailey Lizotte
