movie review last chance harvey

Love is what happens when you have nothing else to do

Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson in "Last Chance Harvey."

"Last Chance Harvey" is a tremendously appealing love story surrounded by a movie not worthy of it. For Dustin Hoffman , after years of character roles (however good) and dubbing the voices of animated animals, it provides a rare chance to play ... an ordinary guy. For Emma Thompson , there is an opportunity to use her gifts for tact and insecurity. For both, their roles project warmth and need.

When "Last Chance Harvey" gets out of their way and leaves them alone to relate with each other, it's sort of magical. Then the lumber of the plot apparatus is trundled on, and we wish it were a piece for two players. One subplot, scored with funny-bumpy-scary music, is entirely unnecessary. And even with the two stars onscreen, there is too much reliance on that ancient standby, the Semi-Obligatory Lyrical Interlude.

But what's good is very good. Hoffman plays Harvey, a failed jazz pianist who has found success writing jingles for TV ads. Thompson plays Kate, an airport interviewer for a British agency. Harvey flies to London to attend his daughter's wedding, and in the space of 24 hours he learns that he has been fired and that his daughter would prefer her stepfather gave her away. At the same time, Kate is ignored on a blind date and has to deal with a mother who fears her new neighbor is a vivisectionist.

They met briefly when Harvey was rude to Kate at the airport. The next day, when both are deep in misery, they find themselves the only two people in a pub. Harvey recognizes her, apologizes and, out of desperation, tries to start a conversation. She resists. But notice the tentative dialogue that slowly allows them to start talking easily. It's not forced. It depends on his charm and her kindness.

Pitch perfect. But then the dialogue fades down, and the camera pulls back and shows them talking and smiling freely, and the music gets happier, and there is a montage showing them walking about London with lots and lots of scenery in the frame. The movie indulges the Semi-OLI more than once; it uses the device as shorthand for scenes that should be fully transcribed. In " Before Sunrise " and " Before Sunset ," Richard Linklater sent Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy talking all through a night in Vienna and all through a day in Paris, and never let them stop, and kept his camera close. Why didn't Joel Hopkins , the writer-director of "Last Chance Harvey," try the same? He had the right actors.

Hopkins gets one thing right. They stay outdoors. Going to his hotel or her flat would set the stage for body language neither one is ready for. They avoid the issue by walking around London, although unfortunately Hopkins sends them mostly up and down the Victoria Embankment and the South Bank, so he can hold the Thames vista in the background. We get more montages of them walking and talking, as substitutes for listening to a conversation we've become invested in.

One subplot works well. After Kate starts Harvey talking about why his relationship with his daughter failed, she tells him he must attend her wedding reception. He says she must go with him. He will buy her a dress. There is a gratuitous and offensive montage of her trying on dresses, including one frilly gown that looks perfect for a fancy dress ball in " Gone With the Wind ." Not only is this montage an exhausted cliche, they're in a hurry, remember? But when they get to the reception, Harvey is touching in a carefully worded speech.

The subplot that doesn't work involves Kate's mother ( Eileen Atkins ). She peers through her curtains at her suspicious neighbor, thinks she sees him carrying a body to the woodshed and speed-dials her daughter every five minutes. Every time we cut to her, we get that peppy suspense music, as the movie confuses itself with light comedy.

"Last Chance Harvey" has everything it needs but won't stop there. It needs the nerve to push all the way. It is a pleasure to look upon the faces of Hoffman and Thompson, so pleasant, so real. Their dialogue together finds the right notes for crossing an emotional minefield. They never descend into tear-jerking or cuteness. They are all grown up and don't trust love nearly as much as straight talk. Hopkins deserves credit for creating these characters. Then he should have stood back and let them keep right on talking. Their pillow talk would have been spellbinding.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Last Chance Harvey

• James Brolin as Brian
• Richard Schiff as Marvin
• Eileen Atkins as Maggie
• Emma Thompson as Kate
• Kathy Baker as Jean
• Dustin Hoffman as Harvey
• Liane Balaban as Susan

Written and directed by

• Joel Hopkins

Leave a comment

Now playing.

Night Is Not Eternal

All We Imagine as Light

Elton John: Never Too Late

The Creep Tapes

Small Things Like These

Bird (2024)

Meanwhile on Earth

Latest articles.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” is Best Installment in the Franchise in Years

Love Is Political: Payal Kapadia on "All We Imagine as Light"

Tokyo International Film Festival 2024: Daihachi Yoshida on Prize-Winning “Teki Cometh”

“Life is Strange: Double Exposure” Resurrects Beloved Franchise

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Movie Review | 'Last Chance Harvey'

The Clock You Hear? It’s Not Big Ben, Buddy

By Manohla Dargis

• Dec. 24, 2008

Even when they’re walking uneven shoulder to shoulder and hitting their professional marks note for note, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson don’t make a lot of sense as a screen couple. But there’s something irresistible about watching two people fall in love, even in contrived, sniffle- and sometimes gag-inducing films like “Last Chance Harvey,” which means that when he looks at her and she looks at him, there’s a good chance that they won’t be the only ones in the theater falling for all the hokey lines and shy glances.

It takes a while for those bashful looks to start darting around in this film, largely because the writer and director Joel Hopkins initially keeps his two main characters apart in order to milk their respective loneliness for maximum pathos. The story opens with Harvey Shine (Mr. Hoffman), a frustrated jazz pianist who writes jingles for a living, struggling to hold onto his gig while en route to his daughter’s wedding in London. By the time he has landed and breezed past an airline employee who is trying to snare deplaned passengers with a weary smile, a clipboard and a questionnaire, the movie has introduced the woman who will change his life: that conveniently situated clipboard wrangler, Kate (Ms. Thompson).

Harvey and Kate almost meet cute again when he exits a cab that she climbs into, a near-chance encounter that suggests that Mr. Hopkins wants to say something about fate or has watched the romantic comedy “Serendipity,” another story about passing ships. After much cutting between Harvey and Kate’s lonely parallel lives, the rumpled American divorcé and starchy British singleton finally get some face time at a restaurant, where a spark ignites amid several glasses of booze and teasing chatter. They consequently set off on a peripatetic flirtation that takes them along the Thames and to his daughter’s wedding reception, where Harvey delivers a speech about love and forgiveness so shameless, fraudulent and maddeningly effective that I wanted to hurl a shoe at his head.

Instead, seduced by its two wily leads, I reluctantly gave in to this imperfect movie, despite the cornball dialogue, pedestrian filmmaking, some wincing physical comedy and Mr. Hoffman’s habit of trying to win the audience over by simply staring at the camera with a hapless deadpan that says: Look at me, I’m still cute as a button, still cute as Benjamin in “The Graduate,” and I’m still kind of lost and still very much in need of your love. I have a habit of falling for Mr. Hoffman’s puppy dog look even if it’s now worn by a grizzled hound, though the actor, a well-practiced thief of scenes and entire movies, obviously takes very good care of himself, even when cast opposite a formidable opponent like Ms. Thompson.

She may not be as brazen as Mr. Hoffman, but Ms. Thompson can certainly make off with a scene with the stealth of a Riviera jewel thief, as she does in the romantic comedy “Love Actually,” in which her character swallows her pride and stiffens her lip when she realizes that her beloved husband is a two-timing bum. She’s laden with a few similarly noble-masochist moments in “Last Chance Harvey,” which finds her trying to hold onto Kate’s pride even as the screenplay chips away at the character’s dignity. In one wincing sequence Kate ends up on an unlikely blind date with a younger man who quickly starts eyeballing a juicier prospect, a situation that seems strictly engineered for her maximum humiliation.

She may crinkle around the eyes now, but Ms. Thompson exudes such warmth and humor and basic human vitality that it’s hard to buy this Miss Lonely Hearts act. (She invests her character with far more life than does Mr. Hopkins.) But she gives it a go, putting on the mask of a woman who, quietly beaten down by too many disappointments, has assumed the somewhat glazed aspect of polite resignation. Every so often that face crumples and you see all of Kate’s thwarted desires and closely held hurts etched into every fissure. To watch this face fall apart against an onslaught of love, and to disintegrate along with it, may make you feel like a first-class sucker, but sometimes even cardboard valentines have sharp arrows.

“Last Chance Harvey” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Warning: Wrinkly adults with desires!

LAST CHANCE HARVEY

Opens on Thursday in New York and Los Angeles.

Written and directed by Joel Hopkins; director of photography, John de Borman; edited by Robin Sales; production designer, Jon Henson; produced by Tim Perell and Nicola Usborne; released by Overture Films. Running time: 1 hour 39 minutes.

WITH: Dustin Hoffman (Harvey Shine), Emma Thompson (Kate), Eileen Atkins (Maggie), Liane Balaban (Susan), James Brolin (Brian) and Kathy Baker (Jean).

We sent an email to [email protected]

Didn't you get the email?

By joining, you agree to the Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

User 8 or more characters with a number and a lowercase letter. No spaces.

username@email

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 91% Wicked Link to Wicked
• 74% Gladiator II Link to Gladiator II
• 81% Blitz Link to Blitz

New TV Tonight

• 72% Dune: Prophecy: Season 1
• 100% Outlander: Season 7
• 81% Interior Chinatown: Season 1
• 76% Landman: Season 1
• 100% Based On A True Story: Season 2
• -- The Sex Lives of College Girls: Season 3
• -- A Man on the Inside: Season 1
• 29% Cruel Intentions: Season 1
• -- Our Oceans: Season 1
• -- Making Manson: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 82% Interior Chinatown: Season 1
• 100% Arcane: League of Legends: Season 2
• 91% Say Nothing: Season 1
• 95% The Penguin: Season 1
• 84% The Day of the Jackal: Season 1
• 76% Cross: Season 1
• 96% Silo: Season 2
• 100% Lioness: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 100% Arcane: League of Legends: Season 2 Link to Arcane: League of Legends: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Twilight Saga Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

50 Newest Verified Hot Movies

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming.

Awards Tour

The Gladiator II Cast on Working with Ridley Scott

Wicked First Reviews: “Everything a Movie Musical Should Be”

• Trending on RT
• Gladiator II First Reviews
• Holiday Programming
• Verified Hot Movies

Last Chance Harvey Reviews

Sweet. Delightful. Lovely. Romantic. Funny. Hopeful. Take a chance with Last Chance Harvey. It will make your heart smile.

Full Review | Nov 14, 2019

The romantic comedy tends to be one of the most predictable of genres, but Last Chance Harvey has even fewer surprises than most. What it does offer, though, is the chance to watch a couple of old pros do what they do best - charm us and each other.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 11, 2018

With a deficit of good characters, a poor script and surprisingly weak central performances, Last Chance Harvey is only for those who have run out of options at the multiplex.

Full Review | Nov 1, 2018

The pleasure of seeing Thompson and Hoffman gamely steal scenes from one another gives the film a chance to entertain.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 8, 2018

Maybe I'm damning with faint praise, but these are two actors I don't mind wasting time with.

Full Review | Dec 30, 2017

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Feb 18, 2012

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 17, 2011

To fully appreciate it, you need to be on playing-field level with Harvey and Kate. You need some miles on the love odometer.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 28, 2011

Decently avted by Hoffman and Thompson, this is a middlebrow, TV-like melodrama that goes out of its way to show the possibility of new romances and new beginnings at any age.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jun 3, 2011

Full Review | Original Score: 0.5/5 | Apr 4, 2011

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 3, 2011

Acaba conquistando graças à doçura de sua história e, principalmente, em função do carisma e do talento de seus sempre admiráveis protagonistas.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 20, 2009

They don't often make romances like this, so tell your mum - or granny!

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 5, 2009

A delightful confection that leaves you with a great big smile of contentment.

Full Review | Jun 5, 2009

The problem lies in a sloppy screenplay and direction that's too slick to be credible. Added to that, while Thompson often makes acting look natural, Hoffman these days makes natural look like acting.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 5, 2009

Undemanding, observant and beautifully performed, this is Richard Curtis-lite with added reassurance: no challenging questions here.

Hoffman and Thompson prove you can never be too old to make memories and their romance is certainly one to remember.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 5, 2009

Watching them dance effortlessly through this film is a reminder that two actors at the absolute top of their game can weave magic even in a slightly predictable example of a wholly formulaic genre.

This bittersweet, autumnal heartwarmer about two middle-aged people getting a last chance at love and happiness exceeded my personal tolerance factor for gloop and gush - but not by too much.

Last Chance Harvey is a funny little thing - a perfectly sincere July-to-September romance with barely an ounce of irony in its DNA, just a lot of optimism and good-humoured smiling. It's refreshing, in its unforced way.

• Cast & crew

User reviews

Last Chance Harvey

Sentimental but not maudlin.

• Jan 17, 2009

Nothing much but the elegance of restraint

• Chris Knipp
• Feb 7, 2009

Heartfelt and sincere

• howard.schumann
• Aug 15, 2009

Emma Thompson makes the whole thing worth it

• arichmondfwc
• Jan 6, 2009

A Well-Acted, Subtle Movie with Forgivable Faults.

• cynthiabuhr
• Jan 16, 2009

A Conventional Third Act Weighs Down a Leisurely Autumnal Romantic Yarn

• May 30, 2009

Excellent Performances

• Michael_Elliott
• Feb 2, 2009

Best with Dustin and Emma together

• SnoopyStyle
• Nov 1, 2013

Shocking is the word

• Jul 1, 2009

How people meet - possibly realistic and sweet

• Nov 22, 2009

Predictable but Entertaining

• Nov 20, 2008

Such a Sweet Film!~!

• Roxburyfunny1
• Jan 22, 2009

Directed by a Virgo

• Mar 23, 2014

Dreary and unsatisfying rom-com

• LilyDaleLady
• Mar 27, 2009

I'm gonna dance your socks off.....

• FlashCallahan
• Mar 26, 2010

Change-of-life film, hope of fall romance

• brian_r_wright
• Nov 11, 2009

Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman make a difference...

• Jul 30, 2009
• Kirpianuscus
• Dec 21, 2017

Not that good a film with these 2 fine actors.

• May 5, 2009

Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson are joyous to watch

• HeathCliff-2
• Dec 1, 2008

Take a chance on Harvey, folks, this is a sweet, amusing and touching film, with two very talented stars

• Jan 20, 2009

Shamelss Botch; Blame Director / Screenwriter; Stars are Fine

• Danusha_Goska
• Jan 19, 2009

In which Miss Thompson and Mr Hoffman get into "The Zone"

• ianlouisiana
• Jun 8, 2009

Great actors keep this movie afloat.

• Mar 22, 2009

An Affair to Forget

• May 9, 2009

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Film review: last chance harvey.

Imagine Paddy Chayefsky's "Marty" saddled with more sentimentality and sprinkled with a few more laughs and you pretty much have "Last Chance Harvey."

By Kirk Honeycutt , The Associated Press November 9, 2008 2:27pm

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Send an Email
• Show additional share options
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Reddit
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Whats App
• Print the Article
• Post a Comment

Imagine Paddy Chayefsky’s “Marty” saddled with more sentimentality and sprinkled with a few more laughs and you pretty much have “Last Chance Harvey.” This sentimental romantic comedy about two aging misfits who find unlikely love benefits enormously from the casting of Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. Even when British writer-director Joel Hopkins asks them to perform doubtful bits of comedy, they pull it off with a professional nonchalance that is fun to watch.

This Overture Films release plays to an older audience, the kind that often prefers to wait until movies arrive on video or cable. Indulging heavily in feel-good cheer, the film might pick up momentum in its limited Christmas release to boost boxoffice numbers for a wider January opening.

Related Stories

It's official: comcast to spin off cable nets under ceo mark lazarus, vowing "new growth trajectory", labina mitevska receives eurimages international co-production award.

Hoffman’s Harvey Shine wanted desperately to be a jazz pianist but, he admits, he “wasn’t good enough.” That just about sums up both Harvey and Kate, two souls found wanting in so many departments.

Instead of being a musician, Harvey ekes out a living in New York as a commercial jingle writer, which he believes always embarrassed his ex-wife (Kathy Baker) and daughter (Liane Balaban). He wasn’t a good enough father, so he’s lucky to even get invited to her wedding in London. As he heads to the airport, his boss (Richard Schiff) tells him his job is in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, Thompson’s Kate is good enough for only a dead-end job interviewing cranky passengers passing through London’s Heathrow Airport, disastrous blind dates and a suffocating mother (Eileen Atkins) who rings her mobile phone almost hourly. After a weekend of even more — and frankly, somewhat forced and predictable — humiliations for both parties, the two meet by chance in an airport pub. Kate agrees that Harvey’s humiliation tops hers — his daughter decided to let her stepdad (James Brolin) give her away.

From there, Hopkins has his hands full keeping the two together long enough for the misfits to fall believably in love. This entails a trip back to London — Harvey, of course, has missed his flight and lost his job — getting-to-know-all-about-you ambles around a postcard-ish London and an opportunity for Harvey to resolve issues with his daughter.

Thanks to his two stars, Hopkins manages most of this without the strain showing. However, the film is dogged by a cinematic deja vu. You can even cite the movies Hopkins might have looked to for story points. Along with “Marty,” the whole thing reminds you of “Brief Encounter” with perhaps a dose of Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset” and “Before Sunrise.” Harvey’s failure to make an agreed-upon rendezvous is straight out of “An Affair to Remember,” while Kate’s mother’s obsessive spying on her suspicious next-door neighbor is a lightly comic reworking of “Rear Window.”

The film weighs more heavily toward Harvey and his woes. Hopkins could have invested more time in Kate’s background and emotional life. On the surface, she just doesn’t seem like someone who is always the odd woman out, and the surface is all this movie scratches.

The tour around London is a polished one as John de Borman’s cinematography and Jon Henson’s decor are very much designed to please.

A Process production. Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Kathy Baker, James Brolin, Eileen Atkins, Richard Schiff. Director-screenwriter: Joel Hopkins. Producers: Tim Perell, Nicola Usborne. Executive producer: Jawal Nga. Director of photography: John de Borman. Production designer: Jon Henson. Music: Dickon Hinchliffe. Costume designer: Natalie Ward. Editor: Robin Sales. Rated PG-13, 92 minutes.

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

‘scream 7’: isabel may in talks to join neve campbell in latest installment of horror franchise, legendary entertainment and sony pictures ending distribution deal, robert pattinson reteaming with christopher nolan for ‘oppenheimer’ filmmaker’s latest movie, ‘september 5’ director says conversation with film’s subject made him pursue the newsroom thriller, shazad latif joins margot robbie, jacob elordi in emerald fennell’s ‘wuthering heights’, zendaya to receive a tribute prize at the gotham awards.

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Roblox (2024)

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Jewish Experiences
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Parents' guide to, last chance harvey.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 4 Reviews
• Kids Say 1 Review

Common Sense Media Review

Midlife love story is sweet, but may not appeal to teens.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this sweet romance about middle-aged lovers deals with some mature themes -- family dysfunction, for starters -- in a low-key way that likely won't lure too many younger viewers. But those who do see it, especially older teens, will be greeted with strong storytelling about a very…

Why Age 14+?

Some visible signage and product placement -- including but not limited to Johnn

Some brief outbursts of profanity, primarily "s--t."

Some drinking, mostly social -- though one scene shows a man ready to drown out

A sweet kiss between two people falling in love.

Tense conversations, but no physical fights.

Any Positive Content?

A father tries to patch things up with his daughter, putting his already endange

Parents need to know that this sweet romance about middle-aged lovers deals with some mature themes -- family dysfunction, for starters -- in a low-key way that likely won't lure too many younger viewers. But those who do see it, especially older teens, will be greeted with strong storytelling about a very realistic relationship. There's some strong language (mostly "s--t"), and few scenes involve drinking, primarily in a social setting (at pubs, for instance) -- though one character sits at a bar seemingly ready to drown his sorrows. It may feel like a downer at first, but it's ultimately a hopeful film.

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Products & Purchases

Some visible signage and product placement -- including but not limited to Johnnie Walker Black Label, Air Berliner, and Marriott -- but not an overwhelming amount.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Some drinking, mostly social -- though one scene shows a man ready to drown out his sorrows in hard liquor.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

A father tries to patch things up with his daughter, putting his already endangered job in more peril. A woman comes to a man's aid and not only befriends him but also helps him through a rough patch, as he does for her. A daughter grows increasingly exasperated with her needy mother but still stays patient and giving.

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (1)

Based on 4 parent reviews

Good but not great

One of those beautifully, rare films you gotta see, what's the story.

Harvey ( Dustin Hoffman ), a composer who makes his living writing commercial jingles, has hit a series of wrong notes. His estranged daughter is about to get married in London, and he's determined to prove himself worthy of her trust by being there for the weekend. His boss threatens to fire him if he's not back on Monday, so Harvey promises to return in time. But there are challenges ahead: Once he gets to London, he finds out that his daughter has asked her stepfather to walk her down the aisle instead. And Kate ( Emma Thompson ), a government statistician whom Harvey meets at Heathrow and winds up spending the weekend with has given him pause ... as well as the courage to change his fate. But Kate isn't sure she can trust in a virtual stranger when life, up to this moment, life has disappointed her so.

Is It Any Good?

LAST CHANCE HARVEY plays on a low register but achieves maximum impact with a simple story that feels achingly authentic. As two souls who've lost their way in middle age, Hoffman and Thompson play their characters subtly but with tremendous empathy. And their chemistry is lovely; they're like two puzzle pieces meant to fit together very well.

Kate and Harvey's relationship -- which mostly unfolds in a series of languid walk-and-talks that make the most of the London setting -- is a grown-up pairing that relies less on sizzling sex appeal and more on an unexplainable, but very real, feeling of connection. It's a sweet movie -- a mite predictable, yes, and not exactly groundbreaking, but a joy to watch, even if only to witness two acting masters at work.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what makes this movie different from many Hollywood romances. Does the central relationship seem more or less realistic than in other romances you've seen? Why? How do most movies define "love"? How does that compare to real life? Also, what does the movie say about the power of forgiveness -- not only of others, but of yourself?

Movie Details

• In theaters : January 16, 2009
• On DVD or streaming : May 5, 2009
• Cast : Dustin Hoffman , Eileen Atkins , Emma Thompson
• Director : Joel Hopkins
• Studio : Overture Films
• Genre : Drama
• Run time : 99 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : brief strong language
• Last updated : July 25, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Before Sunrise

An Affair to Remember

Romantic Comedies

Best high school movies.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.