Harvey Greenfield is Running Late

Harvey Greenfield is Running Late, the micro-budget feature directed by Jonnie Howard and co-written and performed by the brilliant Paul Richards, tells the tale of the eponymous shambles Harvey, a self-professed “ugly Hugh Grant” with an ill-fitting suit and possibly “a million illnesses that his white blood cells are too polite to fight back against”. A textbook people pleaser, unable to ever say no to anyone or anything, deal with any kind of confrontation, or even decide what sandwich to eat, Harvey Greenfield might be one of the most lovable messes of a human being that has ever been portrayed on screen.

Setting off at lightning pace, dragged along by Harvey’s constant running from one commitment to the next, the film not so much breaks the fourth wall but rather demolishes it completely, as Harvey persistently addresses the audience with his lament for life rather than any lust for it. Stress, anxiety, fear, indecisiveness, these are the things Harvey knows he has and are crippling him, but also counters with, how could he not?

Firstly, there is his job and his gruff, grandiose boss, Mr. Buckley (a delicious performance by Alan Hay) at the floundering publishing company demanding his complete commitment. There is his mum, desperate to see him so she can finally go to the shops, or the mechanic, calling about the dodgy beater he is badgering Harvey to buy. And finally, there is his inversely calm and put-together girlfriend Alice (Barker), who just wants him, for once, to get a hold of himself and be there when she needs him.

And if that wasn’t enough, Harvey’s ability to somehow get himself into a string of other increasingly bizarre scenarios just keeps piling on that stress. Agree to be the best man at your “best friend's” wedding that you don’t even really like? Attend a funeral for someone you don’t even know because it would be rude not to? Or having to deal with someone trying to sell you a pig even though you keep telling them they’ve got the wrong person. All this craziness Harvey somehow manages to pull into his orbit makes Harvey Greenfield is Running Late an exhaustingly stressful ninety-plus minutes.

However, what a truly beautiful ride it is. It’s non-stop yes, but it’s a non-stop triumph from start to finish. Firstly, it’s very funny, both in its blatant jokes, puns and references as well as its subtle ones, each landing with maximum impact thanks not just to a clever script, but inspired direction and cinematography as well. It can also be sad and heartfelt in-between those moments of levity, you for sure want to both hug and shake Harvey at the same time and as we journey through Harvey's story from lonely child to barely functioning adult, the film ends up fully formed as a poignant piece on the utmost importance of looking after one’s mental health.

And breathing life into all of it is a cast full of beautifully weird and engaging characters, portrayed by a parade of genuine icons like Annette Badland, Norman Lovett, the late Ewen MacIntosh and even the one and only, Dave Benson Phillips. Main players such as the aforementioned Hay and Liz Barker as the too understanding Alice, also excel of course. But this is the Paul Richards show, and their making Harvey so frustrating yet so utterly loveable and compelling might be the film's biggest achievement.

Touching and hilarious, and having already found success and acclaim on the stage, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late undeniably deserves even more on the big screen.