Monday’s Movie Review – Last Chance Harvey
Posted By CarrieK on June 7, 2009
Monday’s Movie is a weekly meme hosted by Sheri at A Novel Menagerie. Click over to check out all the great reviews, and add your own.
My best friend was husband-less and child-less this weekend, while her crew was away camping, so she invited me over for a Moms’ Movie Night. We watched Last Chance Harvey, starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, and we both enjoyed it thoroughly.
Hoffman plays Harvey Shine, a jingle composer with a lost dream of becoming a jazz pianist. Thompson plays Kate Walker, a woman whose job is asking survey questions of disembarking passengers at Heathrow. Her life is work, her writing class, and taking care of her bored, lonely mother. Harvey comes to London for his daughter’s wedding. These two strangers meet, and magic happens.
Harvey is on his last chance – last chance with work, last chance with his daughter, last chance for happiness. He sees something in Kate that she doesn’t see in herself, something that may be the chance he’s looking for.
This movie is simple, yet funny and heartwarming. Hoffman and Thompson are a delight to watch, and they have a wonderful chemistry together. I found myself rooting for Harvey to get that one, last, perfect chance.
4 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.
Maggie and I watched this movie yesterday, and both enjoyed it a lot. I also gave it a 4/5 at Netflix It was nice and heartwarming, but I really liked that both my daughter and I could watch and appreciate it together. I didn’t have to explain things to her, and she could empathize with the characters, which is cool for a movie to make a 10-year-old feel for 40+YO people. The only annoying thing about it was… everytime they kissed Maggie would squeel “EWWW OLD PEOPLE KISSING!” lol.
I heard so much about this book and can’t wait to see it!
Thanks for reviewing it!
I really enjoyed this one as well. I liked that the characters grew, even in the short time. I liked that it was about romance, not sex. Sex has its place, of course, but so many movies seem to focus on it.
This got really good reviews. Right before this movie came out, I commented to my husband that I thought Hoffman had fallen off a cliff. I guess not! I will certainly be sure to get this one on my Q
I love Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson so I be that is a good movie.
I rarely watch movies but I love Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson so this sounds like it’s worth renting. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hoffman in a romantic role, I’m really curious now. Thanks for reviewing it.
I remember seeing the trailer for this one but then forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. It does sound so good but then – Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson.
Kool-Aid Mom – lol – my daughter would probably have the same reaction!
Sheri – you’re welcome – thanks for hosting Monday’s Movie again!
Laura – I agree – it was nice to watch a romantic movie where the characters didn’t jump into bed immediately.
Sandy – I was amazed at how well Hoffman looks for age 71. Either he’s got wonderful genes or a really good plastic surgeon, cause he doesn’t look all surged-out.
Kathy – if you love them, you will love this! I loved their scenes together in Stranger Than Fiction, so it was nice to see them share a lot more screen time.
Sandra – You’re welcome – I hope you like it!
Margot – of course – how could you go wrong with a cast like that!
Sounds like a predictable, but nice, fun movie. Dustin Hoffman is 71? I had absolutely no idea. He looks fantastic!
Rebecca -he does, doesn’t he?
[...] weekend I headed to Michelle’s Friday night for Mom’s movie night – we watched Last Chance Harvey, which was very good. Saturday I did some chores around the house, and then Sunday Michelle and I [...]