Review of Last Chance Harvey (2008) by Silabhakta L — 22 Apr 2010

"Last Chance Harvey" is one of those love stories that are incredibly appealing, and it doesn't disappoint at all. The movie is sort of magical in a way. It's a love story, yes, but there's something much more to it.

The movie stars Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson who have great chemistry together and the interaction between them is just believable and just enchanting. "Last Chance Harvey" features their story together, a couple of subplots and it all works oh so well.

Dustin Hoffman plays Harvey Shine, a failed Jazz pianist who finds money in the commercial music business. He travels from the US to London to attend his daughter's wedding. Being his job the only thing that he hangs on to, he plans only to attend his daughter's ceremony, but not her reception. This tells a lot about Harvey and his late life; but in the space of 24 hours, he losses his job and finds out that his daughter would rather have her step-father give her away.

Kate Walker is played by Emma Thompson. Kate is a hard-working airport interviewer with aspirations of being a book writer. She too had a suck day and life, being ignored by a blind date and having a mum that thinks her neighbour is a serial killer.

The two have a short meeting when Harvey rudely ignores Kate as he walks out of his arrived plane. The next day, they both coincidentally end up in a bar, both miserable too. Harvey apologizes to Kate for being rude the day earlier, but she doesn't remember him. He then desperately starts a conservation with Kate, eventually asking her to have lunch with him. This part hits all the right notes. Harvey decides to have lunch beside her, as she resists. The dialogue is real and sweet. It allows them to talk easily and connect, not because the film insists upon it, but because of both of their personalities.

There are two sub-plots. The first of Harvey's relationship with his daughter. Director and writer Joel Hopkins present this really well. Harvey has fallen apart with his daughter, and meet again after a long time. Harvey loves her, and she loves him, this is obvious. When he arrives, dines with them, theres just tender connection between them. But the step-father has just been there more, and she decides to let him give her away instead of Harvey.

A heartbroken Harvey is encouraged by Kate, whom he just met, to attend the reception. He wants her to come with him, and they do. But not before he buys her a dress. In the reception, Harvey gives a carefully worded and touching speech that isn't touched by clichéd Hollywood writers.

The other sub-plot is not as good, but still potent to the film. Kate's troubled mum is disturbed by the arrival of her new neighbour, who she thinks is a serial killer. She constantly calls Kate; but an annoyed Kate still understand and loves her mum.

Hoffman and Thompson apparently were allowed to improvise some of the scenes and dialogues. I thought this did great favors for the movie, making the dialogue real, and preventing the movie to not dissolve into a sloppy tear-jerker. It's pleasant to look at the both of the actor's faces. They don't push for cuteness, making the whole story genuine. Hopkins does a great job in making two wonderful people, but should have let the audience see them interact further. Nevertheless, "Last Chance Harvey" is a heart-warming and breezily touching movie, full of love, hope and last chances.

4 out of 4 stars.