British movies would have us believe that every tiny village in the British Isles is populated with wonderfully eccentric characters.

Saving Grace certainly upholds this tradition. It's the story of a quaint little coastal village in Cornwall not all that different from the Irish coastal village from Waking Ned Devine or the Welsh coastal village in The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill but Came Down a Mountain.

Until her husband jumped from a plane without a parachute, Grace Trevethen (Brenda Blethyn) lived a life of ease.

She lived in a beautiful manor house, was a respected member of the community and was the best gardener in the village.

After the funeral, Grace discovers not only did her husband have a mistress in London, but he squandered all their money and lost their home and possessions to loan sharks.

With no house and no money and only her skills as a gardener left, there's only one thing for Grace to do. She teams up with her caretaker Matthew (Craig Ferguson) to start harvesting marijuana.

The film belongs to Blethyn and Ferguson.

It's a series of gentle laughs as they set up their illegal greenhouse, sample their harvest and go in search of a dealer.

If Blethyn isn't imitating Maggie Smith, she's certainly paying homage to her fellow Brit. It's an endearing portrait of a terribly proper British woman remaining so no matter what predicament she encounters.

Ferguson, who also had a hand in writing the film, plays a kind of Albert Finney rouge. It's no wonder his hard-working, pregnant girlfriend (Valerie Edmond) finds it impossible to dump him.

It's not just the townspeople who get a buzz from becoming involved with Grace and Matthew. The audience quickly gets in on the fun. Saving Grace may not be a far-out, psychedelic trip, but it's certainly a welcomed mellow high.

(This film is rated PG)

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