"SAVING GRACE: SEASON TWO"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Holly Hunter as GRACE HANADARKO Leon Rippy as EARL Kenny Johnson as HAM DEWEY Bailey Chase as BUTCH ADA Laura San Giacomo as RHETTA RODRIGUEZ Bokeem Woodbine as LEON COOLEY Gregory Cruz as BOBBY STILLWATER Lorraine Toussaint as KATE PERRY Dylan Minnette as CLAY NORMAN Not Rated Studio: TNT Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The supernatural story of the redemption of Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter) continues in the second season. An effort is mounted to save Leon Cooley (Bokeem Woodbine) from execution while Grace and Rhetta (Laura San Giacomo) are increasingly troubled by a new love that has entered the life of Clay’s father.
WHAT I LIKED
On its surface, “Saving Grace” might just seem like a typical police procedural show. And it is... if you throw in a bit of a supernatural element with angels and whatnot. It is this rogue element that gives the show a certain degree of charm.
The police detective side of the show is interesting and a little more rugged than what you see on television nowadays. The writers seem to strive to make the show more accessible to middle American than other competing shows, mainly with its Midwestern focus and location of Oklahoma City. It’s not just the basic setting that does this, but also the set design, accents and even the nature of the crimes that make the show feel outside of the typical setting of New York and L.A.
As you would expect from anything headlining Holly Hunter, “Saving Grace” is exceptionally well acted and delivers some very strong moments.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
As much as I respected the series for presenting a police procedural show outside of the NY/LA norm, which we’ve seen too too too many times before, the stories and dialogue do at times speak down to the stereotypical Midwestern tendencies. Let’s face it... not everyone lives in a ranch-style house with faux wood paneling on the wall.
With such a strong grounding in the supernatural element, this part of the show is sometimes left behind or softened for a more realistic approach. I’m not looking for “Touched by an Angel,” but I’d like to see a little more supernatural mystery behind the show.
DVD FEATURES
The four-disc set includes all season two episodes along with two featurettes. The first one is “Have a Little Faith: Holly Hunter and Nancy Miller,” which features a sit-down interview with the star and series creator. The second bonus feature is “The Wrap Party Red Carpet, with Dylan Minnette,” features Clay’s off-screen persona interviewing cast and crew at the season two wrap party. While cute, this featurette does break the illusion of the down-home nature of the characters, essentially showing the actors and behind-the-scenes workers in their slightly snooty L.A.-centric mode.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of Holly Hunter and down-to-earth police procedural shows.
