Last Chance Harvey (2009)

Last-Chance Harvey gives Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson a wonderful venue to slip off their shoes and display their complete comfort with each other's company. I suspect only these two could pull off this movie like they did. They're older than Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail but love comes to the presenior set too. Last-Chance Harvey is like the antithesis to Kramer vs. Kramer meets You've Got Mail. Dustin has lost his job as an old-school advertising jingle composer and finds himself in London hanging out in an airport cafe. He introduces himself to the woman reading a book at the next table and they just keep talking (in other London locations too). That's it -- and it's completely charming. There's a subplot involving Dustin's estranged daughter who is getting married in London, and Emma's character brings grace and charm to that connection too. There's no sex or even a suggestion of anything beyond tender romance so, yes, I would call it an ideal date movie for any couple. Last-Chance Harvey is a simple, unpretentious, low-key yet thoroughly enthralling elaboration of what I personally find to be the most promising story premise of all: An earnest man, a gracious woman, and all the time in the world. 4 stars.