Harvey

Author(s): Ben Miller
Location: Canyon, Texas

“Harvey"

Directed by Greg Daniels
Written by Paul Leiberstien & Greg Daniels
Produced by Greg Daniels & B.J. Novak

Principal Cast:

Adrien Brody as Elwood P. Dowd
Joan Allen as Vita Louise Simmons
Mark Wahlberg as Dr. Sanderson
Rachel McAdams as Miss Kelly
John Hurt as Dr. Chumley
Rachel Bilson as Myrtle Mae Simmons
Jason Lee as Wilson
Creed Bratton as Taxi Driver

Tagline: "In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant"

Synopsis: Elwood P. Dowd is a free-spirited, amiable and seemingly odd individual. An alcoholic and people-pleaser, Elwood lives his life for the purpose of being as pleasant as possible. He lives with his sister, Vita and niece, Myrtle Mae. Vita and Myrtle Mae are obsessed with high society and getting into that lifestyle, while Vita is desperately trying to marry off Myrtle Mae to the first available, rich man. Unfortunately for them, every time they introduce anyone to Elwood, he pleasantly introduces them to his best pal Harvey, a six-foot, three-and-a-half-inch rabbit he met after a night of drinking.

When Elwood breaks up a brunch with the local ladies of the high class after he introduces everyone to Harvey, Vita gets fed up, but needs a way to get rid of Elwood, but keep his money that supports her and her daughter. The only solution they are left with is to commit Elwood to a local sanitarium. When they arrive Vita explains to the young and beautiful admitting nurse, Miss Kelly, about Elwood and he is whisked away by Wilson, the quirkily odd orderly of the sanitarium. As Vita meets with Dr. Sanderson, the young head doctor in charge of the in-patients, she in an agitated state and explains to quickly and confusingly to Dr. Sanderson the circumstances behind Elwood and Harvey. In her venting of the facts, she confesses that she occasionally sees Harvey herself. Dr. Sanderson, believing a mistake has been made, releases Elwood and commits Vita to the asylum instead.

Dr. Sanderson talks to Dr. Chumley, the head of the asylum and explains the situation. Mrs. Chumley comes in after speaking with Elwood out in the lawn and they all realize that there has been a mix-up. They release Vita and due to the mix-up, Dr. Chumley fires Dr. Sanderson and goes out with Wilson to look for Elwood. The two go over to the Simmons’ house to intercept Elwood, but just miss him after he puts up a picture of Harvey and himself over the mantle. Elwood calls from Charlie’s Bar and tells Vita where he is. Wilson heads back to the asylum and Dr. Chumley goes after Elwood.

As Wilson gets back to the sanitarium, he walks in on Dr. Sanderson and Miss Kelly arguing. They stop but realize that Dr. Chumley hasn’t come back with Elwood, which was four hours ago. The three head off to Charlie’s to find them. They arrive and find Elwood at his booth. Despite Wilson’s attempts to force Elwood to talk, Dr. Sanderson coaxes it out. Elwood explains that Dr. Chumley had a few drinks with Harvey and he and he went over to another bar.

Wilson goes to check the bars out while Elwood, Dr. Sanderson and Miss Kelly go into the alley and discuss what Elwood does for a living. He explains that all he does is sit, talk and smile with people and they tell him about all the bad in their lives. Then they meet Harvey, and it all fades away. He then goes on to tell how he met Harvey leaning on a lamppost outside a bar. Wilson returns and says he can’t find Dr. Chumley. They all return to the sanitarium where Vita and Myrtle May are to sort everything out.

Dr. Chumley returns to the sanitarium before everyone else saying that he is being followed. He clumsily hurries into his office believing that Harvey is close behind. Frightened, he jumps out his window, setting off the asylum’s alarm. All the others arrive to find the doctor rattled, but he will refuse to explain what is going on. Dr. Chumley calls in Elwood to his office. Elwood explains to the doctor about the powers Harvey has; he is intuitive and he can stop time. The doctor explains to Elwood what he would do if he could stop time and asks if he could “borrow” Harvey for just that reason. Elwood agrees and goes into the lobby as the doctor puts his hand around Harvey and returns to his office.

In the lobby, Dr. Sanderson explains to Vita that he can give Elwood a powerful serum that will shock him out of his “hallucination” and back to reality. Vita agrees and Dr. Sanderson and Miss Kelly take Elwood into a room to administer the serum. The taxi driver who took Vita to the sanitarium explains what the serum does to people. He explains that he takes the patients to the asylum and they are happy, smiling and always leave a big tip. But after the serum is administered, they are normal and mean to the way he drives. Vita doesn’t want this to happen to Elwood, since she realizes how wonderful a person he is, so she bursts in the door to stop the procedure. She does just in time and Elwood happily comes out to talk to everyone in the lobby.

Elwood, in his usual joy, invites everyone in the lobby to dinner on the following night and they all accept. They all leave and Elwood has a sadness come over him since Harvey is staying with the doctor. But just before he leaves the gate, Elwood turns to see Harvey, who wanted to stay with him. Elwood turns, hand around the air, and walks into the sunset.

What the press would say:

I was skeptical coming in. Why would you want to remake one of the most joyful and superb films? Well, the writing and producing team behind NBC’s “The Office” breathes fresh life into this tale of a man and his best pooka friend. Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning play and the 1950 film of the same name, the tale of a man who could or could not be crazy is charming, funny and makes you want to be nice to every person you meet. Adrien Brody plays the lead role of Elwood P. Dowd to amiable perfection. Brody plays the character with a hint of insanity but only in flashes and not enough to disturb the audience. Dowd is so pleasant and non-confrontational that you could angrily throw him into a car and he would laugh and talk about how wonderful a time he’s having. Playing Dowd’s older and high society obsessed sister is Joan Allen. Reprising the Oscar-winning role from the original film, she brings the character a more dignified look but seems absolutely chaotic when she has her moments of insanity. She has some of the best lines in the film as she walks into rooms and proclaims, “Oh good, there are only people in here.” Maybe the best in show is veteran actor John Hurt as the head doctor of the asylum Vita attempts to get Elwood committed into. He begins the film as the stereotypical stern doctor but after a meeting with Dowd and Harvey, he becomes almost child-like, becoming obsessed with how Dowd is so pleasant and happy and if it is because of this rabbit. The rest of the cast shines as well including Mark Wahlberg and Rachel McAdams as a doctor and a nurse trying to reel in Elwood but are put together by him instead. They don’t require much acting, more to look pretty than anything else. Also entangled in love is the odd pairing of Rachel Bilson as Dowd’s niece and Jason Lee as the asylum orderly. Vita would love nothing more than for her daughter to marry someone high in society, and she can’t stand her being attracted to someone like Lee’s character. First time film writers Paul Leiberstien and Greg Daniels (also first-time director) bring the trenched-in-reality feel from “The Office” and put it here. The writing is so real, you forget that this is a film. Daniels is patient as a director and lets the action develop while some other directors could become impatient and push the story along. Daniels takes his time and everything comes together like it should. One of the best comedies in years, one of the best remakes of all time and should be the best film of the year.

For Your Consideration (Comedy)

Best Picture: Greg Daniels & B.J. Novak
Best Director: Greg Daniels
Best Actor: Adrien Brody
Best Supporting Actor: John Hurt
Best Supporting Actress: Joan Allen
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Leiberstien & Greg Daniels