Serendipity

Rating:
Summary: A blissful romantic comedy for the Fall Season!
Review: In terms of this film being a romantic comedy, I think it can appeal to women AND men. It stars John Cusack as Jonathon
and Kate Beckinsale as Sara (they both have wonderful chemistry!). The two meet at Bloomingdale's on one busy shopping day before Christmas in 1990. They argue about a pair of black cashmere gloves, and obviously from their first encounter, you can tell they are both interested in one another.

They decide to spend the evening together by having coffee at a charming cafe, also called "Serendipity," on New York City's E. 60th St. They also go ice-skating (under the stars) in Central Park. Before parting, Sara decides to let fate "decide" if they are to meet again in the future. She tells Jonathon that if they are meant to be together, they will find their way back into each other's lives (Jonathon writes his name and phone number on a five dollar bill and Sara writes her name/number in a used book...If either of them is to stumble upon either of these "symbols" of destiny, then they are meant to be together). I don't want to give away what happens in the rest of the film, but I will just say that it takes place years later, when both Jon and Sara are about to marry their fiances.

The awlays hilarious Jeremy Piven and the ever-so amusing Molly Shannon star (respectively) as Jonathon and Sara's best
friends. Eugene Levy ("Jim's dad" from American Pie) steals many scenes as a sales representative at Bloomingdale's.

This is a film that can make you believe in the power and faith of love and destiny. Whether or not you believe in fate or destiny may have an effect on your opinion of this film. Nonetheless, if you enjoy romantic comedies, Serendipity, no doubt will appeal to you (like other films of this genre; i.e. Sleepless and Seattle and even You've Got Mail).

One last note I must make, this film was beautifully shot in the greatest city of the world, New York City. I commend
Director Peter Chelsom and Cinematographer Ohn De Borman on a job well done. NYC is THE world symbol of love,
friendship, family, hope, freedom, and heroism, and where all of these virtues will transcend all obstacles. We WILL
overcome and prevail. God Bless America! :-)

Overall Grade of Film: B+

Rating:
Summary: Not a "chick flick"
Review: This is one of the better romantic comedies I have seen in a while -and I'm not just saying that 'cause I have a thing for John Cusack.
John Cusack (Jonathan) meets Kate Beckinsale (Sara) in a department store while Christmas shopping. They spend the night getting to know each other and even though both are involved in other relationships, are very drawn to each other.
But, Sara decides that they must leave it all up to fate. She writes her name and phone number in a book and sells it to a used bookstore for him to be able to find. And he writes his name and phone number on a $5 bill that he hopes will find it's way back into her hands someday.
Years later, they are both days away from getting married to other people and are haunted by the question of what could have been.
This was a funny and entertaining movie. John Cusack is adorable as always!!! And Jeremy Piven (who plays Jonathan's best friend) is hysterical!
Definitely worth watching!

Rating:
Summary: AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT....
Review: ...this movie about fate, destiny and whathaveyou falls on its head.

Like a countless other missed romantic "comedies", it tries to capitalize on the idea of two people searching for each other, only to find each other in the last moments of the film. Sadly, it fails on the most basic level to entertain, leaving the viewer with nothing but a more-than-mild case of hatred for the protagonists and a sick feeling in their stomachs.

The characters never make it to more than shallow and self-centered, willing to mislead their fiancee's, lie, even cheat, for just one chance to have, not just happiness, but ultimate happiness. The humor is never quite funny. The acting looks like, well, acting. The situations are so implausible they're almost idiotic.

If these characters had shown any honesty, any decency towards the jilted parties, perhaps it would have been a different movie. Instead the characters seem to go out of their way to pile lie upon lie, deception upon deception. Cusack, who lent a soulless contract killer likability in Grosse Point Blank, is surprisingly flat here.

The soundtrack is pretty neat though, but otherwise a fairly bland flop.

Rating:
Summary: The romantic comedy of the year!
Review: Everything you've believed about fate may not change once you've seen "Serendipity," which uses just about every trick in destiny's book to its advantage, but that doesn't mean that you won't have a good time. For true romantics and firm believers in fate, this is a sure-fire hit, while those who have no faith in chance will sneer. If you happen to be like me, you will suspend disbelief and accept the movie's reliance on all things coincidental, and just enjoy the movie for what it is: a winning piece of romance, laughter, and warmth.

Underneath the destiny premise is a basic, by-the-numbers plot with trademark characters and subplots. Beginning on a fateful night in New York City (and yes, the Twin Towers have been removed), we are introduced to Sara (Kate Beckinsdale), and John (John Cusack), two single people who spend the evening getting to know one another as they share a dream date of ice skating and coffee at a small restaurant named (of all things) Serendipity.

Just when it looks as if our two smitten kittens have become enraptured with one another, Sara plays hard to get, suggesting that if they really are meant to be together, then fate will take its course in bringing them back to one another. He writes his name down on a five dollar bill, which she uses to buy breath mints; destiny, she explains, will determine whether she gets that five dollars back again or not. She then tells him that she will write her name and number in a book, then sell it to a used book store... you get the picture, and they part ways.

Skip ahead a few years, and our two star-crossed lovers have moved on in life: John is days away from being married, while Sara, who now lives in San Francisco, has just become engaged to a musician of the weirdest sort. Of course, John cannot help but take a peek at every bookstore he walks past, while Sara gives hopeful glances at lingering five dollar bills... you get the picture.

When asked if I liked this picture, I answered with a wholehearted yes. After a summer filled with dead-end blockbusters, stunning suspense tinglers, and fresh comedies, "Serendipity" offers its audience a chance to embrace predictability instead of turning away from it. Every aspect of the plot is easily seen ahead of time by those who know their romantic comedies, but this works in the movie's favor, allowing us to kick back and have a good time without any demands on our mind's thought processes.

This is all made extremely likeable by the charming performances from the two leads, who add a great deal of feeling to their characters. Cusack shows a good amount of emotional capacity, enough so that we are willing to go along with his struggle to find his destined soul mate. Beckinsdale, who is quite becoming of the film, plays Sara's change of heart about fate and destiny to perfection, and then one-ups herself when her character again changes her mind and decides to locate John.

As the movie becomes a will-they-or-won't-they-end-up-together romance, we find ourselves in an arena of familiarity. The story supplies Sara and John each a typical best friend, who provide emotional support, and both of whom play a small key role in bringing the two together. In their search for one another, Sara and John will have so many close calls and near-misses (at one point, Sara steps into a taxi just as John runs behind it) that it makes the whole film seem absurd and ludicrous.

The surprise is, however, that it isn't. "Serendipity" is a refreshing piece of fluff that plays by the rules in all the right ways. The predictability of the material is in the film's favor, making no demands on the audience to sort things out. The story is given a verve and tenacity that sparkles like the snows of the Big Apple, while there is humor and sheer whimsy in every aspect of this fantastic fairy tale of chance. Couple that with some strong, inviting leads, and you have a formula for the most successful romantic comedy of the year.

Rating:
Summary: Uplifting and Unlikely (but who cares?!)
Review: This movie's message is very welcome right now -- that fate can wear a benevolent face and that destiny can be happy. This movie is Hollywood at its best. Excellent actors. Likable characters. No gratuitous idiocy in any form. Enough tension to keep you rapt in your seat. Satisfying outcome included. (I went with my husband and his best friend -- both cynical movie-goers who prefer action or vampires over love stories. Still, they both admitted that they really enjoyed this movie.)

John Cusack is New Yorker Jonathan Trager. He's days away from his own wedding, but can't forget the girl he met in an intense chance encounter 3 years before. Meanwhile, the girl, Kate Beckinsale as Sarah, is busy with her own life in San Francisco, living with loopy musician boyfriend Lars (John Corbett - Aidan in Sex and the City). The movie centers on Jonathan and Sarah's increasingly intense obsession with finding each other before settling for others who just don't give them that "soulmate" feeling.

Some of the ensuing events seem unlikely. Then again, who hasn't seen a few stunning "coincidences/serendipities" in life? The movie is so good that you're willing to suspend skepticism and glide along. The reward is leaving the theater with a smile. The movie also supplies a lot of good laughs. Eugene Levy is hilarious an an uptight, upscale salesman. Molly Shannon shines as Sarah's best friend. And Jeremy Piven is also charming and funny as Jonathan's unflinching support. As always, John Cusack is a heart-stopper -- one of today's few actors who evokes the grace and magnetism of classic Hollywood.

Rating:
Summary: Romance, Destiny, and Some Humor
Review: If you love romantic comedies, you will love this. In this movie, two people meet in a new york department store, have a wonderful time, and then leave it to fate to have them meet again. A few years later, they are both about to get married to different people and go on last minute searches to find each other and get closure before tying the not. They often cross paths and just barely miss each other, which can be pretty funny, and jonathan's (john cusac's) best man is hilarious. A must see.

Rating:
Summary: A Bit of Romance and Magic
Review: Magic happens, if you let it; and sometimes even fate or destiny-- or whatever you want to call it-- steps in to lend a hand. But when it concerns love, and finding that special person you're going to spend the rest of your life with, should you risk tempting fate with a test of that love or what is seemingly meant to be, or should you just follow your apparent destiny and embrace it? Such are the questions two people must face and answer in the romantic comedy/drama "Serendipity," directed by Peter Chelsom. Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) is shopping for a gift for his girlfriend, and Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) is looking for something for her boyfriend when they reach for the same pair of gloves on a rack at Bloomingdales. And the wheels of fate are quickly turning. Or are they? Jonathan and Sara proceed to spend the next few hours together, including a romantic interlude skating in New York's Central Park, and there are definite sparks flying between them. For Jonathan, it's a significant emotional experience, and he realizes something has happened, that something has changed in his life; Sara feels the same, but being a true believer in destiny, she needs a sign that this is meant to be before she'll consider pursuing whatever it is that's just happened between them. So she puts it to the test. And for Jonathan, knowing only that her name is Sara, it's the beginning of an odyssey-- a quest-- to find true love with the woman he already knows in his heart of hearts that he wants to share his life with. For Sara, it's the beginning of a search for love, and for that one special person she knows is destined to be her soul mate forever. They both find, however, that the path to pure love is filled with every obstacle the known universe could possibly place in their way. And is the journey worth it? Well, in the end, it all comes down to what fate has predetermined. Or does it?

In the tradition of such films as "Sleepless In Seattle" and "You've Got Mail," Chelsom has fashioned a truly romantic tale of two people who are absolutely destined to be together, no matter what. And-- as the audience knows early on-- nothing less will be acceptable. Hanks and Ryan may be missing, but the charismatic Cusack and the beguiling Beckinsale more than make up for it, carving out their own niche in the genre with this outing, and Chelsom has just enough of that Nora Ephron touch (including the use of music, matching the perfect song with every situation) to make it work. The chances of things ever happening in real life the way they do in this movie are about twice as remote as winning the lottery, but who cares? This is a heartwarming fable about love-- about the way we "want" love to be-- and it's delivered with an endearing care that makes it emotionally involving, entertaining and a thoroughly satisfying experience. And there's not a whole lot more you can ask of a movie, I think.

Cusack is so likable, and manages to convey the bedevilment of his situation with such facility, that the viewer is unequivocally drawn in from the beginning. You want things to work out for this guy-- and Sara, as well; and, of course, you're pretty confident from the outset they are going to. But along the way they make you feel something; they enable you to share the frustration as well as the elation that comes with discovering love, and perhaps finding that better part of yourself at the same time. And the fact that Cusack makes Jonathan so believable, and someone with whom you can identify, has more than a lot to do with it. It's a quality performance from an actor with the flexibility and range to do just about anything, and who never disappoints.

The other half of the equation for success, of course, belongs to Beckinsale, who is not only beautiful, but a good actor who infuses her character with a touch of mystery and complexity that makes her winsome and interesting. Like Cusack's Jonathan, Sara is someone you can root for; you want to see her get what she wants and what she deserves. This isn't a perfect world we live in, and we all know it; but for Sara and Jonathan you want it to be. There's a chemistry between the two of them, and they make it so easy for you to project your own feelings and desires into their situation, that there's no getting around it. If they win, you win. It's that simple. And even though they take you over some rough spots along the way, it's a fun trip and Beckinsale and Cusack-- Sara and Jonathan-- make it a journey worth taking.

The supporting cast includes Molly Shannon, Jeremy Piven, Bridget Moynahan and Eugene Levy (who is terrific-- and hilarious-- as a sales clerk at Bloomingdales). A handsome film that touches all the right nerves and pushes all the right buttons, "Serendipity" has a gentle sensibility about it that addresses the notions of romance and love that reside within us all. And it's refreshingly presented in a way that is pure and inoffensive; and as such it allows you to open up and embrace something of value without having to apologize for it, and without implying you have to be "hip" to appreciate it. Because it's all about love and sharing love, which is something we can all use a little more of in this world we live in today. And that's the magic of the movies.

Rating:
Summary: Serendipity romance that goes light on the sap
Review: If your gonna do an unabashedly cheesey romance you better do it right. And filling your cast with the likes of John Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Eugene Levy (Jim's Dad from American Pie) and Molly Shannon is certainly a good start. This movie centers around a character named Sarah (Kate Beckinsale making ammense for her non performance in Pearl Harbor) whose belief in fate is so strong that she refuses to write her phone number down for Johnathon (John Cusack) after he drops it in the wind claiming "fate is telling us to back off." Granted not an intelligent response for a woman whose just had the best date of her life, but without such insanity there would be no movie, so allowances should be made. Many years later each becomes engaged to be married to another despite the fact that either of these two can't get that one magical New York minute out of their minds. What makes this movie different is it's ability to know when enough is enough. Peter Chelsom (director of The Mighty) has proven he has the ability to make a sappy movie without necessarily inspiring the audience's gag reflex. Instead he shows relative restraint letting the charm and charisma of his cast carry the day, occasionally pulling our focus to some lush and beautiful images without being overpowered by them. Serendipity is a classy romance, with enough heart and humor to keep any audience member entertained and in their seat for ninety minutes. Even the boyfriends who are certain to attend this movie under protest.

Rating:
Summary: Connect the dots
Review: OK, so you know how this movie will end. A guy and a girl meet each other under weird circumstances, fall in love and meet years later because they are meant for each other. Like so often.

but it's not bad at all, the clues are very funny and even though it's too absurd it is still funny. A nice 'romantic comedy'.

There are some classic moments that couples must have done before or after seeing this movie. Like connecting the dots (freckles) on a girl's arm... sigh... do soulmates really exist?

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: This is the best romantic comedy I have ever seen! This is really a one to watch!
This is a movie that really gives you a lovely love feeling inside of you! With the jazz music at the background, and showing the beautiful romantic side of New York makes this the most lovely romantic movie for me! (And of course Kate Beckinsale) The extras on the DVD are very good to give you an inside look of making the movie.