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With all kinds of movies about Nazis and death and general unhappiness hitting the theaters these days, leave it to Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson to light up an otherwise dreary winter with a sweet and oddly romantic story about meeting someone at just the right time.
In Last Chance Harvey, Hoffman plays Harvey Shine, an aging jingle guy whose job is on the line. But instead of working overtime to wow the client and keep his job, he has to head out to London for his daughter’s wedding.
Once Harvey arrives in London, things get even worse. He’s an outcast, while his ex-wife and her new husband get to stand in the spotlight. But just when things couldn’t get any worse, he meets Kate (Thompson).
Kate Walker is a lonely single woman whose life revolves around her needy mother (who’s convinced that her new neighbor is a serial killer). Kate’s been on one uncomfortable blind date after another, but they’re all the same—and no one’s all that interested in her.
Then, while she’s having lunch one day, Kate meets Harvey, an outspoken American whose day has been even worse than hers. The two strike up a conversation—and begin to build a valuable friendship.
Though the Hollywood Foreign Press may have it listed in the “comedy or musical” category, Last Chance Harvey isn’t the typical romantic comedy. In fact, sometimes, it’s absolutely heartbreaking. But it’s also smart and engaging and perfectly adorable.
The story gets off to an uneasy start—going back and forth between Harvey’s uncomfortable pre-wedding encounters and Kate’s latest blind date—but everything brightens when the two main characters finally come together. Still, Kate and Harvey aren’t the same old chick-flick couple. In many ways, in fact, they’re exactly the opposite of what you’d expect from an on-screen pairing. Together, they really seem quite odd—the short, spunky American musician and the tall, simple British singleton. Yet these unlikely characters—and the talented stars who play them—make the film delightfully different in its own awkward way.
The romance in Last Chance Harvey isn’t the typical chick-flick romance, either. It isn’t wildly passionate love-at-first-sight. It’s a thoughtful, mature relationship, built more on walks in the park and long, meaningful conversations than on booze and sex. As such, it’s not necessarily an exciting movie—mostly, it’s a lot of talk—but it allows the audience to get to know the characters as they’re getting to know each other.
Last Chance Harvey may follow some of the usual chick-flick plotlines, but its clever writing and lovable cast give it depth and charm. So if you’ve outgrown the same old teenage romantic comedies, you’re sure to fall in love with Harvey.
