There's no doubt about it, the British are different. And unmistakably, well, British. The new film "Saving Grace" is another leaf on the vine of humor that has wrapped itself around the world. Now, the British are not known for the subtlety of their humor. For as long as I can remember, there has been strikingly original British comedy, like the Carry On series, Are You Being Served, Benny Hill, Absolutely Fabulous and the Monty Python crew.

In most recent history, the Brits have fed the cinematic market with a gaggle of uplifting lighthearted comedies. Saving Grace hopes to cash in on the success of the genre.

The story concerns an upper class woman in Cornwall who is suddenly left widowed and penniless. Obviously accustomed to a life of luxury, Grace was something of a hothouse flower, akin to the orchids she spends all her time nurturing. So poverty doesn't come easily to her. Rather than sell her mansion by the sea, she decides to turf out the orchids and grow drugs instead, guided by her handy-man come partner in crime.

The film has a number of nice points to recommend it. The scenery of Cornwall is really beautiful. All your problems will seem to diminish when able to walk along those majestic cliffs and watch the waves.

And strong performances from Brenda Blythern and Craig Ferguson make the film a pleasure to watch. There are also some delightful characters that run around the village, accepting each other's foibles as normal. But after Waking Ned Devine it all starts to feel a little stereotypical--as if the British Isles are literally wall to wall with eccentric characters. Even the criminals in Saving Grace seem a lot like the crew from Lock, Stock, and 2 Smoking Barrels. Can it be that all the bad guys in England are either dolts or incredibly nice people who just happen to break the law for a living?

But it's the theme of Saving Grace--growing drugs to enable a rich woman to stay in her cushy life style--that makes the film less than palatable. It's not like the Full Monty or Brassed Off where it was easy to feel sympathy for the characters who were down on their luck, and hence, so very appealing. In this case, Grace looks like she has never known a day of hard work in her life, and I found it hard to feel sorry for her. It's like the Queen Mother living to be 100. Big deal, right?

Perhaps it's my colonial heritage showing through, here, but I found this movie about a rich damn to a bit lame. Get a job, lady.


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