New Yorker Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is on the verge of losing his dead-end job as a
jingle writer. Warned by his boss (Richard Schiff) that he has just one more chance to deliver, Harvey goes to London for a weekend to attend his daughter's (Liane Balaban) wedding but promises to be back on Monday morning to make an important meeting... or else.
Harvey arrives in London only to learn his daughter has chosen to have her stepfather (James Brolin) walk her down the aisle. Trying to hide his devastation, Harvey leaves the wedding before the reception in hopes of getting to the airport on time, but misses the plane anyway. When
he calls his boss to explain, Harvey is fired on the spot.
Drowning his sorrows at the airport bar, Harvey strikes up a conversation with Kate (Emma Thompson), a sensitive, 40-something employee of the Office of National Statistics. Kate, whose life is limited to work, the occasional humiliating blind date and endless phone calls from her smothering mother (Eileen Atkins), is touched by Harvey, who finds himself energized by her intelligence and compassion.
The growing connection between the pair inspires both as they unexpectedly transform one another's lives.
As a 77 year old woman, with a young heart, I could identify so much with both of them. Who hasn't been hurt in their lives in family situations, especially with divorce. I loved the humor with buying a dress for the wedding. I loved the jazz music that accompanied the scene and the ending was just wonderful. A real "feel good" movie that I have enjoyed over and over again on cable TV.
An exquisitely satisfying film brought to life by two Oscar winning actors. The film is built on nuance and only actors as capable as Hoffman and Thompson could carry it off so well. For those who think it "boring", from a teeny bopper perspective it may be: No 18-wheelers flying through the air, no sex, no nudity, no violence, not even any swearing. If that's what turns your crank, don't bother with this one.
This was the most boring movie I have seen in a long time. It was like reading a book where nothing ever happens...chapter after chapter...the end.