ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

ROMANTIC comedies are usually the preserve of young heartthrobs like Anne Hathaway or Ryan Reynolds. It is a refreshing change to see a Hollywood film in which cupid’s arrow takes aim at an older generation.

Last Chance Harvey is a slight but immensely charming tale in which Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson are encouraged to take a chance on love. There are no bad taste jokes and no shrill histrionics, just a beautifully acted little vignette that coasts buy on the fantastic chemistry between two charismatic, Oscar-winning stars.

Looking a good deal younger than his 71 years, Hoffman captures all the vitality and vulnerability of Harvey Shine, a composer of advertising jingles who arrives in London for his daughter’s wedding. Harvey is the outsider at this family gathering and it seems that his daughter even wants her stepfather Brian (James Brolin) to give her away on the big day.

Kate (Thompson) is also someone who has been pushed to the margins of society. A worker at Heathrow airport, her life is devoted to the many crises and neuroses of her selfish mother Maggie (Eileen Atkins), who is described as “human contraception”.

When Harvey and Kate meet there is a spark of attraction in their bantering conversation and sarcastic remarks to each other. Could it be enough start to a serious relationship?

Carrying echoes of everything from Before Sunrise to the Cary Grant classic An Affair To Remember, Last Chance Harvey could never be accused of originality, but thanks to Hoffman and Emma Thompson it is a true pleasure.

Nationwide release
Director: Joel Hopkins
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, James Brolin, Jamie Sives, Angela Griffin
Screenwriter: Joel Hopkins
Certificate: 12A
Running time: 92 mins
Country: USA
Year: 2008

© Allan Hunter, 2009