TO HELL WITH HARVEY IS HEAVENLY CHARMING

Tony Burgess and Greg Collins in To Hell With Harvey

A writer’s world is always mysterious and most of the time chaotic which happens to be the narrative most of the time.  There have been several films already this year, ironically during a pandemic, where the film focuses on a writer who is seeking their next published book, their next inspiration or even the next right word to use in their story.  A writer’s world is alluring and it always has been and has been stirring the curiosity of bookworms since the dawn of time.  Wouldn’t we like to know what was it like to be in the world of J.D. Salinger, D.H. Lawrence or Hunter S. Thompson?   For these writers not to fall head over heels or go stir crazy because they are illustrious there is that saviour.  It’s the assistant who must keep their writer in check so they can take advantage of the opportunities that might head their way after a reading or a book signing session.  Without the assistant, where would all these writers be today?

Director Liv Collins‘ takes this writer and assistant tandem story to appeasing heights rather than to the depths of despair in her film To Hell With Harvey.  The film begins with a young high school graduate Greg, played by Greg Collins, who is an aspiring writer who gets involved with a writing group to progress his craft.  After telling reading his short story, the clan of writers immediately starts berating the story and Greg’s writing skills.  Knowing that he has a lot more learn, one of the group members tells him that renowned writer Harvey McCoy, played by Tony Burgess, needs a personal assistant.  This is an offer that a struggling writer like Greg could not refuse so he contacts Harvey right away and goes to his house to start this job as a personal assistant.

Tony Burgess as Harvey McCoy and Greg Collins as Greg Gifford

Harvey starts to mentor Greg to becoming the writer he wants to be by telling him that he needs to write every day and live a little more to write.  Harvey is in or nearing his last chapter in his life and to boot, he is a reclusive alcoholic and separated from his wife.  That gives him enough reason to be snarky and crass with Greg and at times treating him like a little child when he mocks him.  All Greg wants for Harvey to do is read his short story and get feedback from him but Greg becomes Harvey’s scratching post.  When they begin Harvey’s book tour celebrating the 15th anniversary of his book The Great Affliction, Greg gets to know Harvey’s dark but charming side and his difficult past.  The two do have a unique chemistry and they both play off the dichotomy of good and bad or young and old or trainer and trainee.  The audience does feel for Harvey despite his flaws that make him careless but the tough love that he expresses to Greg makes you chuckle and engaged.  Once Greg convinces Harvey that he should start caring once again, we have “A Star Is Born” like moment but for writers in the last stanza of the film.

The film is simple and the characters develop in this film.  There are not too many aggressive tones in the script that make it overbearing in which many Canadian films do to stand out.  Director Liv Collins rather keeps the film pleasant and appealing by having these two carry the film and it is just right.  We think here on FERNTV that this is a film that is paying homage to none other than Tony Burgess himself.  The man who wrote more for the Canadian genre film side with his resume stacking up to films such as Pontypool, Septic Man, Hellmouth and Ejecta is quite the legend himself.  Who better than to play the role of Harvey McCoy than Tony Burgess and it is so nice to see his acting chops in a film not considered genre.  If To Hell With Harvey is paying homage to a man who has worked so hard to raise the levels of Canadian cinema then congratulations to Tony Burgess because he has probably been to hell and back a few times by doing this.  At least its on a highway.

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