LAST CHANCE HARVEY

It's not a great movie, but it does what it does. I liked LAST CHANCE HARVEY because Emma Thompson put on a great show, and Dustin Hoffman was wearing his years like he ought to. He's aging, and in this film, he kind of owns it, playing the part of a man who's past his prime and has fallen from grace with everyone he knows: his coworkers, his ex-wife, and even his pre-nuptial daughter. There's definitely something a little ironic about the lead character's name being "Harvey Shine," when his shine is dimming all movie long. But at least the actor who played him isn't: Dustin Hoffman was just nominated, thanks to LAST CHANCE HARVEY, for a Golden Globe award.

The screening definitely wasn't marred by his visit: that's right, Hoffman himself was in attendance--he sat right next to my friend and I, actually--and it was great to hear him chat about this role and others past after the movie ended. (For the record, he got up three times during the film; the third time, he came back with a cocktail, the lucky bastard.)

Emma Thompson also was recently honored with a Golden Globe nomination for LAST CHANCE HARVEY, and the nomination is highly deserved. She's the beacon of the film, and though it's a little weird to watch a rom-com where the two lovers are older (and dare I say it, the woman is taller than the man--a whole half head taller), the two of them make it work. No uncomfortable love scenes, kids; you can see this one with the parents and not feel an ounce of awkward. Okay, maybe an ounce, but not two.

plot: Older couple in young love.
thought: Is that like MUST LOVE DOGS?
in five: 3/5

keep shining: http://www.lastchanceharvey.com/