I can see why other reviewers have called this movie boring: there are no chases, crashes, plot twists, sex scenes, or gut-busting laughs. What there is: a gentle movie featuring two wonderful actors doing superb work. Dustin Hoffman is Harvey, an old-school jingle writer who is refusing to read the writing on the wall, where his job is concerned. He flies to London where his American daughter and her American fiancé live and work, to attend the wedding. The trip starts out as something of a bust (he is somewhat cut-off from the rest of the family, for various reasons) until he meets Kate, a Heathrow Airport survey representative. Kate's life consists of her job, her writing class, her clinging mother and avoiding relationships (she is terrified of being hurt). Watching these two slowly yet quickly (it all takes place during the course of a couple of days) do the courtship dance is to see some very, very fine acting. This is a gentle, somewhat formulaic movie that would probably have not been made without these two leads. While all the actors are good, Thompson and Hoffman are what make this film.
The film does have its faults (I believe someone else mentioned the dress montage, and yes, I think Emma Thompson should have been exempted from this cliché)and can be formulaic, but overall, it was a pleasant experience.
The film does have its faults (I believe someone else mentioned the dress montage, and yes, I think Emma Thompson should have been exempted from this cliché)and can be formulaic, but overall, it was a pleasant experience.