By: debbie lynn elias
Anyone who knows me, knows of my great admiration for Dustin Hoffman. Likeable both on-screen and off, he is affable, engaging, entertaining and always surprising (which makes me look forward all the more to our occasional conversations in our office building), and he has only gotten better with age. Similarly, you can always count on Emma Thompson for a smile, a laugh and more often than naught, some rather bawdy humor. Put the two together and you’ve got the most enjoyable and charismatic mature couple to grace the screen in many a year. Whip in a frothy story filled with romance, comedy, warmth and fun, and you’ve got yourself the sweetest little romantic comedy to open the new year – LAST CHANCE HARVEY.
Harvey Shine was once a shining star in the advertising business. But sadly, those days where Harvey was the king of ad jungles is gone as technology and youth have run rough shod over him. Divorced, alone, feeling his age and past his prime, Harvey is looking forward to his trip to England for the wedding of his daughter Susan. Re-energize. Revitalize. See the family. Have some fun. Unfortunately, his boss throws a wrinkle into Harvey’s plans when he gives Harvey an ultimatum – he’s out the door and unemployed unless he sells himself and his jungle writing to the agency’s newest client. Depressed and fearful, things only go from bad to worse for Harvey when he lands in London. Susan has decided to have her stepfather walk her down the aisle. But, operating under the misconception that things can’t get worse, it doesn’t take long for Harvey to find out he hasn’t hit bottom yet. No, that joy hits him square in the face when he misses his plane back to the States (after deciding to skip the wedding because), misses the new client and gets fired.
So what do you do when life hands you lemons? Why sit and drink in the airport bar, of course. But it’s even better when you have someone as attractive as Kate Walker sharing a seat next to you. Recognizing Kate as a flight attendant to whom he was less than pleasant to the day before, a meek, humbled and rather depressed Harvey apologizes for his earlier behavior, a move that opens the heart of lovelorn Kate. As they sit and talk and drink, their growing attraction for each other is evident as is their positive effect on each other with depression and sorrow turning into laughter and smiles. Naturally, it doesn’t take long for Harvey to sweep Kate off her feet and invite her to his daughter’s wedding reception where their feelings for each other spring into full bloom.
But, being older and wiser, doubt rears its ugly head. Are they being ridiculous? Can they find love this late in life? Is this real or just an airport fling? Is there more to this relationship than what meets the eye?
Dustin Hoffman is the guy every woman over the age of 40 hopes to find brooding over his drink somewhere – intelligent, wise in the ways of the world, mature, sweet, articulate and polite with just a touch of a sad little boy who needs a little tender loving care. He sold me as Harvey from the opening scene. Forget about his actual age, as Hoffman looks and acts like someone at least 20 years younger if not more, and interestingly, with this role, truly has that “romantic leading man” stature but with the maturity of life behind him. And talk about charm! I have never seen Hoffman more charming than as Harvey Shine. As for Emma Thompson, as usual, she transforms herself into Kate Walker. Not one that I would ever describe as “vulnerable”, as Kate, Thompson brings a vulnerability to the character that is warm and endearing, mirroring the little boy in Hoffman’s Harvey. The pairing of Hoffman and Thompson is an example of perfect chemistry. Not explosive but rather, perfectly blended, easy and comfortable as if they had spent the last 20 years together. It is simply beautiful to watch them interact with each other.
Although inexplicable and unnecessary to the=2 0story, but an always welcome actor, is Eileen Atkins as Kate’s meddling mother. Unfortunately, the inane subplot that brings Atkins into the story is not only a waste of screen time, but a waste of Atkins extraordinary talent. Nevertheless, even in this small role, Atkins makes the most of it and garners quite a few laughs. Likewise, James Brolin and Kathy Baker as Susan’s step-father and mother give solid performances but are wasted with constrained under developed characters.
Written and directed by Joel Hopkins, the story and his direction is light and frothy. There is a purity to it that is refreshing. The ending is predictable. Comedic encounters are of the expected with nothing surprising or new. But that’s okay. This is a film that is mild mannered. Genteel. Comfortable. Enjoyable. Pacing is casual and unhurried and compliments the ease of the relationship and chemistry between Hoffman and Thompson. There is something quite lovely about watching these two meander through the streets of London with flirtatious ease. Notable is the care that Hopkins takes in his development of Harvey and Kate as he incorporates life experiences that come with maturity, carefully blending that with the unfamiliarity and inevitable embarrassments of a new romance. Don’t look for special effects or fancy camera angles. Hopkins keeps everything simple and sweet.
As comes as no surprise to me, Hopkins went with one of the b est cinematographers around when it comes to romance and relationships – John de Borman. As he has demonstrated time and time again in films like “Serendipity”, “Shall We Dance” and most recently, “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”, de Borman has a gift for lighting and lensing the romance of life and he does so here beautifully.
Sweet. Delightful. Lovely. Romantic. Funny. Hopeful. Take a chance with LAST CHANCE HARVEY. It will make your heart smile.
Harvey Shine – Dustin Hoffman
Kate Walker – Emma Thompson
Maggie Walker – Eileen Atkins
Kathy Baker – Jean
James Brolin – Brian
Written and directed by Joel Hopkins.
