I’m a sucker for rom-coms (romantic comedies). As in, I’ve seen the Freddie Prinze Jr. collection enough that a buddy of mine and I have long been calling Prinze Jr. “F.P.J.” for short. You know, to save time.

Charming as can be: Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson in "Last Chance Harvey."

So, of course, the trailers for “Last Chance Harvey,” a rom-com starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, hooked me quicker than a bribe would (allegedly) get you a Senate seat in Illinois. While I was waiting to hear from the Juneau Empire earlier this week about what I was going to review for tomorrow (it wound up being “Slumdog Millionaire,” so look for that in the morning) I went to the Monday Senior Citizen Matinee of “Last Chance Harvey.” It’s my favorite crowd to hit the theater with; they’re mature, good natured, respectful and relaxed! And it is the only time I know of where the price is $6.50.

Back to the movie: Joel Hopkins wrote and directed. He’s a relative newbie as his credits consists of 2 films I’ve never seen (“Jump Tomorrow” and “Jorge”), but both his writing and his direction were rather sharp. His script shows us the lives of two strangers, Harvey (Hoffman) and Kate (Thompson). We cut back and forth between their two lives as they head inevitably for a chance encounter. Harvey’s life is in shambles, but he’s trying to hold it together at least for appearances as he travels to London for his daughter’s wedding; Kate is lonely, interacting mostly with her even lonelier mother (the subtly funny Eileen Atkins).

Harvey and Kate actually meet briefly when Harvey arrives in London (it has to do with Kate’s job), but their first important encounter happens after both retreat to an airport bar after they have suffered horrible days. The rest of the film is about the two of them forging a meaningful relationship out of thin air and a about 48 hours together. There are few twists, and that was just fine with me.

Hopkins’ script, along with Hoffman’s painful vulnerability actually made me cringe several times. You’ll feel embarrassed for Harvey, and more than once. But it only makes it all the sweeter when he’s able to woo the amazingly charming Kate. 

So it’s like this: If you can’t stand rom-coms, you’ll probably be able to stomach this one because Hoffman and Thompson are that good. If you generally like rom-coms, you’ll probably love this one because Hoffman and Thompson are that good.