After her Oscar-nominated turn in "Secrets & Lies", Brenda Blethyn starred in the equally great "Saving Grace". And let me tell you, this is not the sort of movie that you find every day.

After her husband commits suicide, Grace Trevethyn (Brenda Blethyn) discovers that his irresponsible financial decisions have left her with a massive debt. Fortunately, she finds a way to make ends meet: marijuana. That's right, Grace starts cultivating it.

Every aspect of this movie was played to great effect; there isn't a dull moment anywhere in it. And I sure didn't see that end scene coming! But anyway, you gotta see this movie. You just might feel more than a little festive after seeing it. If nothing else, it might function as a good lesson about knowing one's finances. But of course, there's a LOT more to it than that!

This film begins with a rich guy killing himself. Soon, his widow, Grace (Brenda Blethyn) learns that she is NOT rich after all--as her husband made a long series of bad investments. In fact, the problem is even worse than this--she's about to lose everything because she has so many creditors. Eventually, she and her gardener, Matthew (Craig Ferguson) come up with a plan to get her out of debt--convert her greenhouse into a marijuana production plant.

This film is mildly funny--though I am pretty sure it will offend some as well since it appears to be a wholehearted endorsement of pot use. This bothered me far less than the very end--which seemed really, really, really contrived (and a bit stupid). Still, up until the end, it is mildly amusing. While I'd normally say it's a film you can take or leave, it IS a must-see if you are a fan of the TV series "Doc Martin" as it's the first appearance of the guy (played by Martin Clunes). However, like you'll notice through his three movie appearances and TV show, the character was VERY inconsistent. Here, he's a pot-head and has little to him other than his love of the plant. Not at all an auspicious beginning.

Saving Grace is the absolute best of British, it's hilarious, heart warming and totally zany. Blethyn dazzles as Grace, one of Britain's best, she's supported by a marvelous cast, Lesley Phillips wonderfully funny. Favourite scene has to be the two stoned ladies in the shop, it is side splitting, and worth having on repeat. The ending is absurd, but in keeping with the crazy tone of the film, another funny scene is Grace attempting to deal on the Streets.

I have a huge affection for this film, doing my finals in uni I used to have this on constantly to take my mind off the studying, it did the job.

Classic. 9/10