His protagonist in “Last Chance Harvey” harks back to Dustin Hoffman’s first chance as a film actor.
In his transformational 1967 debut, as the title’s lonely loser in “The Graduate,” Hoffman portrayed a bumbling victim of circumstance with no direction and little respect — until love upends his world. More than 40 years later, his Harvey Shine is a bumbling victim of circumstance with no direction and little respect until love — in the form of Emma Thompson’s old maid character Kate — upends his world.
Today’s slight but sweetly entertaining romance thrives on the ability of both Hoffman and Thompson to create sympathy without sentimentality. The relaxed flair of these expert thespians together, plus the touching nature of the rare territory they explore, elevates director-writer Joel Hopkins’ story of found companionship between a senior man and a middle-aged woman.
In happens in London. But, except for a brief exchange, the two don’t even connect until halfway through the film. Harvey is a has-been commercial jingle writer visiting in town for the wedding of his semi-estranged daughter Susan (Liane Balaban). With a career in jeopardy and no significant other, he soon faces the ultimate humiliation: Susan’s handsome and suave stepfather (James Brolin) will be walking her down the aisle instead of him.
Meanwhile, Kate’s life, too, seems taken straight out of the Beatles song “Eleanor Rigby.” She has a dead-end job at Heathrow airport, a pestering elderly mother and the occasional mortifying blind date to fill her solitary days.
Though we in the audience know it is inevitable, it takes an inordinately long time before we get to see Harvey and Kate together. Ah, but once they begin their fitful courtship, the proceedings perk way up. The plotting follows a predictable trajectory — geezer-gets-spinster, geezer-loses-spinster, etc. But, more interestingly, the confidence that Harvey gleans from connecting with Kate, now his escort to the wedding reception, allows him to have a transcendent moment of love and dignity there.
If that memorable toast to the bride is the best single moment in “Last Chance Harvey,” it is the bantering and affectionate combination of Hoffman and Thompson that brings the cheer.
Quick Info
“Last Chance Harvey”
3 out of 5 Stars
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, James Brolin
Director: Joel Hopkins
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Running Time: 99 minutes
