Reel Critics

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques

written by community members serving on our panel.

‘Saving Grace’ has plenty of wit and charm

Thank you, Fine Line, for purchasing the North American distribution

rights for Portman Entertainment’s zany comedy “Saving Grace,” Audience

Award winner at the Sundance Film Festival. Other than a trip to England,

which is not in my foreseeable future, how would I have seen this gem?

Directed by Nigel Cole, “Saving Grace” is 90 minutes of lighthearted

amusement. It’s a British import driven more by characters than plot.

Set in a quaint seaside village on the craggy coast of England, the

residents of Cornwall are about to disregard suspicious activity

germinating at the 300-year-old estate of Grace Trevethan, the town’s

avid horticulturist.

Brenda Blethyn, in contrast with her Oscar-nominated, working-class

roles in “Secrets & Lies” and “Little Voice,” convincingly portrays Grace

as a kind but naive, mild-mannered, upper-class widow.

When Grace’s husband accidentally falls -- or perhaps jumps -- from an

airplane without a parachute, Grace learns of his ill-fated business

dealings. An unfathomable and escalating debt ensues. Antiques are

confiscated. Her riding lawn mower is repossessed. She’s about to lose

her home unless she can come up with 300,000 pounds to repay creditors.

Craig Ferguson (“The Drew Carey Show”) is Matthew, her now-out-of-work

Scottish gardener. Self-serving Matthew recruits Grace to help with a few

sickly hemp plants, grown for personal consumption and concealed beneath

trees at the local vicarage. Embracing a save-the-plant oath and

dismissing the risk, Grace avows: “I’m a gardener. And these are sick

plants.”

Humidifiers, sun lamps and food revive Matthew’s illegal crop.

A bold scheme that will bring them both out of their financial

troubles takes root. Her once-coddled prize-winning orchids are cast out

of the greenhouse and replaced by hydroponic beds of cannabis. But, just

for one harvest.

Reminiscent of older comedies, concealing their illegal activity from

the townsfolk proves to be foolhardy, nonetheless their endeavors are

energetic.

The real caper begins when painfully conspicuous Grace travels to a

seedy area of London in search of a drug dealer connection. There she

negotiates with a charismatic French drug lord played suavely by Tcheky

Karyo (“The Patriot”).

The witty screenplay is co-written by Craig Ferguson and Mark Crowdy.

But forgive them for not cluing you in on the abrupt twist at the end.

Although it disrupts the flow of the film, it doesn’t change the fact

that “Saving Grace” is a well-written coming-of-middle-age comedy.

Besides, who knew Grace had so many hidden talents?

Crime doesn’t pay. Or does it? Find out for yourself in “Saving

Grace.”JULIE LOWRANCE, 40, is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a

Newport Beach overnight aircraft advertising agency.

‘Tao of Steve’ is clever take on philosophy

In “Tao of Steve,” Dex (an amusing Donal Logue) has extensively

studied philosophy. He can quote any of the great philosophers to make a

point in a conversation. He has even come up with his own philosophy of

life, the Tao of Steve.

Steve is the prototype of the cool American male, exemplified by Steve

Austin (“The Six Million Dollar Man”), Steve McGarrett (“Hawaii 5-0”) and

most important, Steve McQueen. Dex’s Tao is a Zen-like way to be cool

like Steve, especially when it comes to success with women.

Although Dex is clearly intelligent, he has missed the main point of

philosophy. All the great philosophers were striving for a greater

understanding of life and from that a deeper fulfillment. Dex is all

surface and no depth.

He uses philosophy only to justify his slacker existence and to seduce

women. As one of Dex’s friends suggests, his philosophy has gotten in the

way of his having a life.

Syd, wonderfully portrayed by Greer Goodman (who also co-wrote the

script with Duncan North and Jenniphr Goodman), has depth and complexity

as well as beauty. None of Dex’s lines work on her, and she is quick to

notice the shallowness of his life.

Goodman shows you what Syd is thinking or feeling just by her facial

expression or the look in her eyes.

Because they need to share a truck and have mutual friends, Dex and

Syd end up spending a lot of time together. Dex is constantly discussing

his views while trying to find a way to sway Syd in his favor. Syd is

just as consistently shooting down his views and passes. Syd is a

challenge to the “Tao of Steve.”

Unfortunately, the film then lapses into a rather predictable plot. At

certain times in the story, Syd makes choices that make no sense based on

her character up to that point. These weaknesses can be overlooked rather

easily, because “Tao” also has many strengths.

The scenery around Santa Fe, N.M., is beautiful. The background music

is good and blends with the story. The best reasons to see the “Tao of

Steve,” though, are the clever dialogue, humorous scenes and plenty of

laughs. Besides, how many movies have you seen that quote both Lao Tzu

and Groucho Marx?TRICIA BEHLE, 31, lives in Newport Beach and works as a

software validator.

‘Coyote Ugly’ may kick-start your summer

“Coyote Ugly” is about a bar full of beautiful girls in New York City

who draw a line of gawkers down the block. They’re wild and crazy and

tons of fun.

Violet (Piper Perabo) is an aspiring songwriter from New Jersey coming

to find her dream in New York City -- but her new life starts to

resembles a nightmare. She stumbles upon the coyote chicks and needs the

job. She then becomes a coyote, and her music starts to take a back seat.

She’s afraid of the streets, and the bar is safe and secure. So of

course, she needs a sweet and gorgeous guy to keep her on track.

After the hype, it was kind of a shock that the movie was so tame. A

couple girls dance on the bar. So do some guys. It’s just fun. “Coyote

Ugly” is slow to start but does take off eventually. Violet is a tad

melodramatic, but that’s nicely balanced by the other outrageous,

over-the-top women and the quietly alluring and amusing Kevin O’Donnell

(Adam Garcia).

The supporting cast makes this movie. Maria Bello as Lil, the bar’s

owner, is sharp and entertaining. It’s not an original character for her

-- she appears to be redoing her personality in “Payback” -- but it’s a

good performance and probably the best of the movie. John Goodman, as

Violet’s father, is just as gruff and lovable as always. Tyra Banks’

cameo was perfect as just a cameo.

It’s easy to tell that producer Jerry Bruckheimer is better with

action films. The only action in this film, the energetic dance scenes,

are the best part will have everyone’s feet tapping.

The bottom line is that “Coyote Ugly” is far from ugly, and for some

might be worth the ticket just for its eye candy. But it’s also cute --

once it gets rolling -- and would have been better pegged as a romantic

comedy.

It’s a good movie for a lazy summer afternoon. No need to run in the

heat, but if you want a break from the action-packed blockbusters, try

“Coyote Ugly.” It’ll give a kick to your summer.

MELISSA RICHARDSON, 19, is a Costa Mesa resident and a junior at UCI.