In Last Chance Harvey (PG-13) Dustin Hoffman stars as an estranged divorcee father who begrudgingly attends his daughter’s wedding in London. While there he meets an equally lonely single woman (Emma Thompson). Though seemingly not suited for one another the two quickly form a friendship that may or may not lead to something more. Joel Hopkins directs.
Last Chance Harvey, which is currently playing here in town, is a nice little movie. Granted that probably wasn’t the highest goal of the filmmakers—I’m sure most directors don’t set out to make nice little movies-- but that is about as nice as a compliment that I can heap on the movie. The movie’s predictable and offers nothing that people haven’t seen before but for the most part it’s enjoyable and—let’s just be honest here--it was only ninety minutes long. So that was good. Nobody wants to watch an overly long romantic comedy.
Without question Hoffman and Thompson are the reasons to watch the movie. They are both two great actors and seeing them interact on screen does provide a lot of charm for the movie. The two roles are not the most challenging parts that they have had in their career but neither one phones it in and both give genuine performances. Through no fault of their own, the movie lacks depth thus preventing either player from really digging deeper with their given performances. Let’s face it. Both could have given stronger performances if the material would have demanded it.
I also think that’s it noteworthy that Last Chance Harvey aspires to be a romantic comedy that is aimed at a more mature audience (Hoffman is 72 and Thompson is 49). Most contemporary romantic comedies are geared towards twenty and thirty year olds so it is respectable when a movie bucks that trend.
Last Chance Harvey hasn’t been tearing up the Box-Office so I don’t see it lingering around long at the cineplex. But with that said, Last Chance Harvey is the kind of movie that plays just as well on the small screen as it does on the silver screen.
All in all Last Chance Harvey excels in being a conventional film. Moviegoers aren't going to fall in love with it but they won't despise it either.
Final grade: B-.
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