Director: Joel Hopkins
Writer: Joel Hopkins (Screenplay)
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, Liane Balaban, James Brolin, Richard Schiff
Plot: In London for his daughter’s wedding, a rumpled man finds his romantic spirits lifted by a new woman in his life.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Simple Romantic Drama
Story: Last Chance Harvey starts with pianist Harvey (Hoffman) and Kate (Thompson) who are both in their 50s but clearly very lonely. Harvey is going to London for his daughter’s Susan (Balaban) wedding but is being put on a deadline at work with the next job being his last chance to save his job. We also watch Kate getting forced into blind dating with a co-workers partner’s friend.
When Harvey has to give up seeing part of his daughter’s wedding to try and save his job he ends up losing his job and finally getting a chance meeting with Kate after we see certain almost moments between too. As the two become friends from their one afternoon together Kate talks Harvey into returning to the wedding being it is her once in a lifetime moment.
Last Chance Harvey is a story that shows that however long you have to wait you will get your chance as long as you are willing to take it. We do get to see how one man has lost his moment to experience the most important parts of his life and clearly looks unhappy but isn’t willing to let his latest chance go. The story really does focus on what would be the chance we miss not letting them be the chance we don’t take. This story is filled with charm but really is just about the conversation and reaction between the two leads. The time period being used is over two days which makes the idea that the chance is even higher risk with their decision. (7/10)
Actor Review
Dustin Hoffman: Harvey Shine is the jingle writer who has to travel from America to London for his daughter’s wedding. Harvey has to go through the situation of being left alone through the rehearsal dinner while seeing his ex-wife happy with her new husband. His life is turned upside down when he loses the chance to give away his daughter because of his job which he later loses before meeting the equally lonely Kate who starts a potential romance. Dustin shows he always had the charm to be a leading man to sweep a lady of her feet. (7/10)
Emma Thompson: Kate Walker is the single lady who has to deal with her mother wanting someone to talk to all the time, being set up with the wrong type of guys through work friends before meeting Harvey, Harvey is reluctant to let her go without a conversation which opens up the doors to a potential romance between the two. Emma shows here that she is still filled with her charm for a romantic film. (7/10)
Support Cast: Last Chance Harvey has a supporting cast that includes most of the wedding party that all work to show how Harvey may have missed out on too much of his life. it also has the members of Kate’s life that make her feel out of place in the group.
Director Review: Joel Hopkins – Joel gives us a good romantic film that is focused on the relationship between two people. (7/10)
Drama: Last Chance Harvey looks into the ideas of missing moments in life and taking the chances that present themselves to you. (7/10)
Romance: Last Chance Harvey shows that a simple conversation could start a romantic angle. (8/10)
Settings: Last Chance Harvey centres the most part of the story in London but never uses the traditional landmarks to remind us. (8/10)
Suggestion: Last Chance Harvey is one to try, it tells a nice simple story that could easily have just been a chapter in Love Actually. (Romantic Fans Try)
Best Part: Hoffman and Thompson are great.
Worst Part: We don’t really meet too much of the supporting cast, but this does work because it shows how distant our two leads are from them.
Believability: The idea of that moment coming to change everything in our lives is always good to see. (8/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: Chapters of Love Actually.
Awards: Both Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman were nominated for Golden Globes.
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Tagline: When it comes to love, is it ever too late to take a chance?
Overall: Last Chance Harvey is a touchingly charming tale of love when you least expect it.
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