Review of Last Chance Harvey (2008) by R.j. L — 11 Jan 2011

Watching "Last Chance Harvey" I was washed over with this sudden memories of such great romantic feelings that I had when I watched such romantic classics such as James Cameron's "Titanic"(1997), Michael Curtiz's "Casablanca"(1942), Jon Turtletaub's "While you were Sleeping"(1995). I felt the real authentic feelings o love between two people that I had not felt for some time, I had not felt the love, the emotion, the sensation of feeling so lifted up by the love of two others. In this case the touching and very romantic story of one Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) and Kay Walker (Emma Thompson) two lonely middle aged people who meet under very typical circumstances they meet in an airport bar. Let's start from the top shall we...Harvey Shine is a washed up jingle writer who feels outdated in this modern society of computers and sound editing, Kay Walker is a lonely introverted airport worker who is constantly nagged by her mother Maggie(Dame Eileen Atkins) because she is single. Harvey is in London for the wedding of his daughter Susan(Liane Balban) who is about to be married and things are not going too good for Harvey right from the start first he is let go form his job due to him being obsolete. Then he looses the coveted position of father of the bride to his ex-wife's new husband Brian (James Brolin), Kay set up on a blind date that did not go to well and the next day is in the airport bar reading her novel and drinking. When out of nowhere Harvey, depressed and beaten, enters the airport bar and after some causal conversation, Harvey and Kay decided to spend the day together and by doing so find not only solace in one another but find something that both of them have been looking for a long time... love. "Last Chance Harvey" is a beautiful film that is a tribute to love at the passing mark a story of happenstances of how sometimes when you least expect you find love in some of the most far off and mysterious places. This is a story of love, of hope, of joy and happiness and how everyone even misfits like Harvey Shine and introverted Kay Walker) deserves a second chance at the little thing we humans like to call love.

Joel Hopkins' "Last Chance Harvey" is a glorious, winning tribute to what I view as true love. When most people think of true love they think of two young people at the prime of there lives falling madly in love with one another only to be torn apart by some sort of tragedy or misfortune or there families do not approve of there love and forbid the lovers from being together. I would like to tell you that that is what this film is about but sadly, if I did I would be dumbing down a perfect romantic drama in the most classic of traditions there is not one fake or forced moment in this entire production. Every scene every frame every angle in this film feels so real it is like you are almost there, like your living with these characters in the moment of there blossoming love. Joel Hopkins has created such a caring portrait of love and emotions that "Last Chance Harvey" almost supersedes its very traditional yet highly engrossing love story. This highly entertaining film proves that Hollywood still has some original romantic work up there sleeves. This is a romantic drama for our time a romantic drama that tells a story everyone of all ages can relate too(those between the ages of 17-60 in particular). A story of two people who are way past the point of viewing love as something passionate and are just looking for someone to hold dear and near that is the point of the story of this film that is the meaning of it all. "Last Chance Harvey" is one of those rare films that does not get the respect it deserves and yet deserves ever bit of respect, admiration and love it will get from its viewer. This a romance for our times a romance where you think you have everything figured and then you figure out you don't, where love is never what it seems and when you least expect you may find love in a misfit like yourself.

To describe my admiration and love for this would take more words that I would like to describe this film so I will say this if you miss "Last Chance Harvey" you are missing a romantic film event that is like nothing you have ever seen. This is a love story where there is no passionate lovemaking, no intense make-out sessions nothing very physical at all to this story this is a plain straight out story of attraction, love at its most refined (when your over the hill) and mutual understanding. "Last Chance Harvey" is the smart moviegoers romance if you are hoping for a romance with dull characters, lame dirty jokes, dull clichéd plot lines, sub par dialogue and very unlikable characters stuck in an idiotic story. Than I would like to recommend to you "When in Rome"(2010), "The Back up Plan"(2010), "The Ugly Truth"(2009), "Sleepless in Seattle"(1992) and "27 dresses"(2007). Because this is not the film for you, this is the film for those who are searching for a romance where there is meaning to the romance besides equal levels of physical level of attractiveness and where the bicker until they kiss plot line does not play a part in the story. "Last Chance Harvey" is so much more than that this is a story about two lonely introverted people who find a sort of common ground in each other and find a love that is both admirable and beautiful. I love this film I love every single thing about this film in all my time in watching movies this is one of the very few romantic films that has both restored my faith in the romance genre and made me feel happy at the same time this has quickly become one of my all time favorite films and one of my all time favorite romances and shows the audience that no matter what age you are you can always find love wherever it may lay.

For decades Dustin Hoffman has been one of cinema's most reliable and most talented actors starring in such memorable films such as "The Graduate"(his feature film debut and his first Oscar nomination), "Marathon Man", "Midnight Cowboy", "All the President's Men", "Kramer VS. Kramer," "Tootsie"(everybody over twenty remembers "Tootsie"), "Rain Man," "Wag the Dog" and now "Last Chance Harvey." In Joel Hopkins brilliant second film Hoffman delivers one of his most straightforward performances as introverted misfit composer Harvey Shine, Harvey is kind of like me he doesn't fit in well with people, he is terrible when it comes to quick witted humor and embarrasses himself on numerous occasion in front of a group of people. Deep down inside he has a good heart is a good person and a good father he has just lost his way a little. Hoffman has never been known to play very normal guys he has always played characters with quirks and issues to numerous to count but his performance as Harvey Shine gives him the opportunity to just play it straight to just be himself instead of being someone who is being chased by the Government or uncovering a Government conspiracy. Harvey is a regular with regular problems and who-in the state of personal and professional crisis- finds someone who he has something in common with who has the same insecurities as he does. Hoffman gives one of his most endearing and most charming performances in this rather traditional romantic film. I have never really liked Emma Thompson to me she just plays the same role repeatedly like most British actors do. With "Last Chance Harvey" she has won me over not just with her abilities as an actresses (and I do think she is damn fin actresses) but also with her ability to play Kay as such a simple and yet outward appealing woman. Kay Walker is as insecure as any middle aged single woman would be she worries about being alone for the rest of her life but she is too shy for her own good and doesn't feel like she fits in anywhere. The same could be said for Harvey so when Kay and Harvey finally meet you think what the hell! Maybe they might make a nice couple and they do they fit so well together it is like God made them just for one another, Thompson's performance is just phenomenal she glows on screen and shines so much brighter than any of those young stars who have played the female lead in weaker romantic films. She is just wondrous to behold to watch onscreen that you almost forget that the character she is playing is just a fictional Thompson plays her so naturally like she is just being herself she is truly a fine, fine actresses and one of the best of all time. The rest of the cast including James Brolin, Kathy Baker, Dame Eileen Atkins, Liane Balaban, Daniel Lapaine and Richard Schiff all urn in fine supporting performances in this wondrous film.

I am not easily won over by a film there are many test and trials that a film must go through to win my affection. "Last Chance Harvey" is one of those few films that won me over from the very beginning this is such a powerful and lovely film that from the opening scene to the sweet- yet slightly clichéd- closing you love every awkward, tender moment in this beautiful motion picture. A once in a blue moon unconventional love story that captures your heart and lifts your soul you do not feel weighted down while you are watching this movie. You feel uplifted carefree as you sit and observe the budding love between two middle aged people who are just trying to get by in this tough dog eat dog world we live in. Joel Hopkins has constructed a masterful film that not only portrays love at its most unforgiving but also gives you a love story that you can relate too. "Last Chance Harvey" is a true rarity amongst the romantic films of today it gives you a story you love, characters you can relate to and takes place at a time when life is the hardest of all. This is not a love story but a story about love when you lest expect it or want it this is a story of two people two lonely people who are just looking to get by and along the way find something they never thought would happen again in there life.. They found someone to love someone who needed them just as much as they needed someone a story of how even in the midst of tragedy you can find a shimmering light at the end that leads you down the road to happiness.