Review of Last Chance Harvey (2008) by Dave C — 21 Jul 2010

Lately, I have become extremely frustrated and displeased with the modern romantic-comedy genre. Apart from Knocked Up, there really have not been any really good romantic comedies made in the past few years. They?re all movie like The Proposal and Must Love Dogs and 27 Dresses; movies so derivative and formulaic it?s disgusting that offer nothing outside of that. It?s always the same. Handsome guy meets cute girl. She?s obsessed with work, he?s obsessed with her. They kind of fall for each other, find excuses not to be with each other, have a magical first kiss, and stay with each other forever after.

Last Chance Harvey is not that movie.

I was more than a little impressed with Last Chance Harvey, least of all because of the leads, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. These two actors both bring out the inner aspects of the characters, making more than the two dimensional beings I am use to seeing in these films. I cannot underplay their performances; they?re both fantastic. And their chemistry is very much alive. Something else that bugs me is that usually there is no real chemistry in the leads in romantic comedies. They?re usually more of the Adam Sandler-camera-charming types. People who looks good in front of the camera, but cannot act with their onscreen partner very well. Hoffman and Thompson, on the other hand, work well with each other, which is incredibly important. This, more than anything else, is what draws the audience in.

And the story is so simple, yet quite powerful. There is a lot going on here, yet it?s all so simplified. There?s no over-the-top cheese thrown at the audience and none of the usual Hollywood bullshit of having the huge happy moment. It?s done very naturalistically and very carefully. For instance, there is a scene in which Harvey makes up with his daughter, but is only able to do so because of the inspiration from his newly-found companion. Now usually I would say this whole idea is too over used and too over done. However, I learned from Good Will Hunting that even ideas that have been done before can still seem genuine and new if handled correctly. Last Chance Harvey does that just as well.

I highly recommend Last Chance Harvey. I will even go on to say it was definitely one of the best movies that came out in the year it was released. I fine film all around, and very sincere and genuine, Last Chance Harvey will hopefully be remembered as one of those little films that could do a lot with the little it started out with.

10/10.