by A. Marshall

Created on: June 20, 2009   Last Updated: June 21, 2009

Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) lives in New York. He is a jingle composer for American tv adverts, but his job is under threat from new and younger talent. He's under pressure to prove himself with a last ditch big contract, but he needs to take time to go to his daughter Susan's (Liane Balaban) wedding in London. His ex-wife (Kathy Baker) will be there with her smooth-talking, handsome husband (James Brolin) who has basically taken over his family role. It's just another thing for Harvey to worry about and, as he seems to expect, it doesn't go well at all.

Meanwhile in London, Kate Walker (Emma Thompson) is a lonely middle aged single woman who works at Heathrow Airport. Her friends try setting her up with a blind date which goes badly wrong, and she's just about given up on the idea of a relationship. Not only that she has a depressed mother (Eileen Atkins ) who phones her up all the time worrying about the Polish guy next door who's up to something in his shed. She suspects he may be a murderer.

Harvey encounters Kate at the airport and tries talking to her as they both console themselves over a drink at the bar. But Kate has so many emotional barriers up, she doesn't seem interested. Can they hit it off?

It's a slow, gentle build up that draws the viewers in by letting them get to know the characters separately first. By the time they meet we feel we know a lot about their lives. Dustin Hoffman plays the part as an inept, socially clumsy man who's easily sidelined, and knows it. He has moments of truculence which shows him as a disgruntled aging man, discontented with his life, who's only real purpose is his work. He is capable of being very charming though, and this begins to shine through when he meets Kate. It's an excellent role for Dustin Hoffman and one he appeared to enjoy playing.

Emma Thompson is also excellent as the self-effacing and saddened Kate, worn down by life's disappointments, and the responsibility of caring for her mother. She's likeable, and well loved by her friends, but lacking in self confidence. Her conversations with her mother are amusing but poignantly true to life, as anyone with aging parents will recognize. Eileen Atkins puts in a subtle and impressive performance as the lonely and clinging mother, with just enough of a touch of humour to make her funny and likeable. The two work well together and their onscreen relationship is very realistic and touching.

It's an enjoyable film, that's down to earth and in many ways realistic. Kate and Harvey are an unlikely couple - there's clearly a big age gap between them (21 years in reality), but they acknowledge that, and it doesn't really matter. The dialogue between them is engaging and gently funny. There are no big laugh out loud scenes - it's not that kind of film.

The film is mostly set in London and has drawn in a number of actors that are well known from Holby, Hustle and various other British television series. They only have tiny parts, but perhaps they all just wanted to be involved in working with two such wonderful actors as Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman.

This is an easy to watch, well performed and entertaining film, that will mostly appeal to an older audience, but the message of hope in it could apply to lonely people of all ages.

Writer and Director: Joel Hopkins

Running Time: 93 minutes

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