Last Chance Harvey

I saw this movie last week -- and again on a recent cruise. A love story for grownups.

It was an enjoyable slice of life, well acted by its two veteran actors: Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman.

This is not a romantic comedy; rather, I would call it a romantic drama. And since the romance takes place in a grown up way with mature adults, rather than teens or early adulthood, it might be more enjoyable for a mature audience. There is no sex or nudity, unless you count Dustin Hoffman in the shower, looking his age.

Eileen Atkins plays the part of Emma's mother. She is terrific in the part. Vulnerability crosses her face in every scene, simply in nuances of facial expression.

Hoffman is on his way to London for his daughter's wedding. It's going to be one of the harder weekends of his life. He learns that his daughter wishes her step-father (played by James Brolin) to give her away, then that he is fired.

All the action takes place over the wedding weekend.

Liane Balaban is gorgeous as his daughter.

Along the way he fails to meet Thompson when she tries to ask him a questionnaire in the airport and when they take the same taxi -- as one gets out, the other gets in. Later, when he misses his plane home, they connect in a believable way in the airport lounge.

That leads to his return to the wedding reception and their giving love a chance. I had to suspend reality to think the reception was still going on after his long morning/afternoon away. It was nice to see a resolution within the families. I mentioned to my daughter that he was treated differently when he was alone compared to when he had Emma with him.

On the whole, I recommend it. I give it a 2.5 stars; my daughter gave it a 2.

Have you seen it?

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2009-01-23 18:57:56.

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