Last Chance Harvey [DVD]

I cant remember the last time a watched a movie that was so simple yet rather genius in a way. Sweet and romantic without most of the junk every single romantic movie has. It was mature but fun, and not once was there anything more intimate than a small kiss. There was kindness in their getting to know each other and that was actually a relief to see. They start out with sadness in their life that so many of us can relate to and their 'romance' wasn't whirlwind or over the top, but pleasant, enjoyable and relatable. I really enjoyed this movie.

Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is a kind man. Although he had dreamed of becoming a jazz pianist, he writes jingles for a living and he has done his job well for many years. Because of his age, his boss, Marvin, treats him as if he's no longer an asset to the company, suggesting that he stay in London (Harvey's daughter is getting married there) for a while instead of rushing back to work. Kate Walker (Emma Thompson) works for the Public Statistics Agency in the airport and makes a living taking surveys from any arriving passenger who will allow her to ask the questions. She has a friend who tries to play matchmaker and a mother who craves her attention, phoning her constantly when they are apart. And Kate's mother Maggie (Eileen Atkins) has her own little storyline. She had an active imagination but I could understand why she thought what she did. This woman amused me. I felt bad for Harvey and Kate in the beginning because they seemed so alone in the world. Harvey was treated like an outcast at his daughter's wedding and that bothered me. And when his daughter gave him news that hurt him to his heart, I hurt right along with him. I was so glad when he found his voice at the reception. The toast he made brought tears to my eyes. And Kate -it seemed she was just going through the motions of life. When these two people got together I was so happy for them. They were lovable people even though they didn't seem to think so and they were good for each other. No graphic sex scenes, no violence and not much profanity (did get carried away with the `s' word for a little while there). When this movie was really getting good, it was over and that was disappointing. I wish it would have been longer. I really enjoyed it.

More than a bit like Before Sunrise for the mature adult set, this film is charming and poignant. Excellent performances abound from the cast. If anything, this is a movie about hope. Life can twist and turn in delightful ways if you don't give up, and if you look for opportunities right for you. Lately, romantic comedies and dramas seem to have become extremely cliched and banal. While this film is rather formulaic, it strays from type in that the two lead characters are older, and also that the romance is almost a subplot to Harvey finding a way back to a purposeful life again. It doesn't hurt, that as a 30-something woman, I found Dustin Hoffman to be quite good-looking as Harvey, he's aged well. I also admire Emma Thompson in almost anything she is in. This would be a good choice for an older couple looking for a romantic movie to share together or for a girls night movie. Romance can exist no matter when or where!

Last Chance Harvey was made for people (and I'm sure there are still a few of us) who are interested in real people living real lives. Dustin Hoffman is a semi-successful composer of advertising jingles who would have loved to me more, Emma Thompson is a fine and literate human being who has accepted loneliness as the lesser evil to disappointment and pain. They meet, they interact, they see the possibility of greater possibilities in their lives. Boring? Hardly. An intelligent script and finely crafted personalities assure that. If you are tired of things just going "boom," and yearn for a film inhabited by real people this one is for you. Highly recommended!

Just a lovely movie, one of my favorites. Both Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman create the most endearing characters that I really cared about. Their respective abilities to bring such intense vulnerability to the screen, really incredible. And the support cast.... I don't know all the actors names but they really set the stage to accent Emma and Dustin's respective intense and humiliating loneliness. So well acted. Lunch at the airport bar complete with the vacuum is very moving as they both are able to make something out of nothing and both persevere to find something out of nothing. I love the way Dustin throws his luggage as if that is all that is left of his life. Really loved this movie, especially the end. I hate it when a movie like this has a bad ending but this one is so full of hope. Apart, they are so desperately lonely. Together, they fit into the dance of life.

Great actors! It lacked essence and a bit dragging. Dustin was acted like somewhat of a stalker. Love him as an actor though.

It did a great job of showing the real life, complicated ostracized feelings we can experience even amongst our loved ones which can be the most complicated of all. Leaves you wishing them well and wanting to know more about the main characters. It encouraged me because we all go through horrible down times like Dustin's character and we all hope for a happy turnaround.

Todo perfecto

A few weeks ago, when I was staying with my daughter, we went to the video shop and hired this film 'blind' in that we knew nothing about it. We were both utterly charmed. Whether this slight but touching story (about a lonely middle aged American jingle writer (Hoffman) who comes over to London for his daughter's wedding only to discover she has asked to be given away by her stepfather, and his encounter with another lonely person (Thompson)), would have worked in the hands of two lesser actors I would doubt. But the truth is both Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson are not only at the very top of their form, they also clearly enjoyed working with each other to such an extent that the screen positively sizzles with their chemistry. Don't expect complex plot lines, or fast action - this is a romantic comedy of the best sort, beautifully acted by two masters of the craft, and all filmed in a London that has never looked better.

It was alright bit slow at the begging but then it got a whole lot better it was a good movie after the the begging

Im Gegensatz zu manch anderen Liebesromanzen hält dieser Film die Qualität durchweg sehr hoch und das verdankt er den beiden erstklassigen Hauptdarstellern. Emma Thompson und Dustin Hoffman gehen mit sehr viel Einfühlungsvermögen in ihre Rollen hinein und leisten sich während des gesamten Films keine Schwächen. Das der alte Sack noch so gut spielen kann, hätt ich nicht gedacht! Keine Sicht der Romanze durch die rosarote Brille, sowas könnte auch tatsächlich passieren. Dustin rettet mit seiner positiven Herangehensweise mehrmals die Liebe der beiden, auch wenn ihm seine gesundheitlichen Probleme fast einen Strich durch die Rechnung machen. Einer der besten Liebesfilme die ich bisher gesehen habe!

I like Emma Thompson's films and chose this movie because of her. However, I was moved by the realism of this film to a degree that I did not expect. Watching Thompson and Hoffman was like seeing real people in moments of embarrassment and pain. If that doesn't sound like entertainment, it isn't, exactly. It is, however, enlightening, especially if you've ever been in a similar situation. The film also touched me because it exposed human frailties, such as Hoffman's character displays, with humor and understanding rather than with judgment. As the film progresses, we learn to like and understand the characters, and the "happy ending" seems genuine, not contrived. This is clearly not a film for people who expect a great deal of action, and the humor is subtle. Instead, "Last Chance Harvey" is a movie for those who enjoy watching characters slowly unfold and come to life.