- Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is a lonely, workaholic musician who is invited to the wedding of his daughter, Susan (Liane Balaban), mostly as a courtesy. It's obvious that he's been a lousy father, just as he was once a lousy husband to Susan's mother Jean (Kathy Baker), and he generally comes across as a mumbling, desperate, pathetic sot. Kate Walker (Emma Thompson), on the other hand, is a lonely airline employee whose mother (Eileen Atkins) constantly calls with gossip about her mysterious neighbor. Everyone Kate knows, including her mother, is constantly trying to fix her up, but her detached attitude and lack of self-confidence inevitably thwart their plans. Basically, these two people are undateable. This film puts them together.
- As romantic semi-comedies go, you could do worse than Last Chance Harvey. Hoffman and Thompson are two outstanding actors whose talents obviously haven't been depleted by age, and the film's settings show London at its most beautiful. Still, the film requires us to root for two people who fall more cleanly into the category of "big losers" than "loveable underdogs." Will falling in love help Harvey to be less of a jackass? Will dating a pushy jackass help Kate to be less of a doormat? My guess in both cases is "no." I would also suggest that, in the future, Harvey and Kate exchange cell phone numbers. Phones generally facilitate communication and can be particularly useful when one is going to have to miss a romantic rendezvous. Think of all the unnecessary conflicts that could be avoided in this manner.
