By Sean M. Wathen
In the mist of the recent Tragedy, we find ourselves exhausted and in search of a source of relaxation. Serendipity is a relaxing film. It is one that everyone can sink into your theater seat, forget about the outside world for an hour and a half, and do something that has been hard for us all to do lately; to laugh.
The story of Serendipity is an old cliche with new twists. The lovable John Cusack (Say Anything, High Fidelity) plays Jonathan, a guy who meets his dream girl while doing Christmas shopping for his girlfriend. His dream girl is played by Kate Beckinsale (Pearl Harbor) who has a strange obsession with destiny. She believes that the best way to live our lives is planned and that we need to open our eyes to the signs that will lead us toward this plan. Cusack and Beckinsale have an unforgettable time one night under the NewYork sky but then Beckinsale needs to see if theyâ are destine to be together. They go their separate ways to test fate. Seven years later, they’re engagedâ to other people. Beckinsale is now in San Francisco while Cusack stayed in New York. They both begin to reminisce about being together and begin to see the signs showing them to find each other. The story does have some great moments where the characters constantly just miss running into each other and it will give you goose-bumps.
You can’t help but smile when Beckinsale leaves a coffee shop in a taxi just as Cusack’s taxi pulls up and he goes in the same shop. It’s truly a feel-goodâ movie. However, the boy meets girl, boy looses girl and needs to get her back routine is an old cliche.
Beckinsale’s fiance, Lars, is an old cliche himself. He is the kind of character who is too busy with his work, in this case his band, for his loving wife and we sit and wonder why she loved him in the first place. The name Lars doesn’t seem to fit his character either. Lars sounds like a heavy metal-drummer instead of the jazzy-flute-playing, sexier Kenny G that he is in Serendipity. His music does add for a few laughs, though. Cusack’s fiance, on the other hand, is a change of pace. She is a loving girlfriend who is actually not in the movie enough. The poor girl has what seems like only three scenes.
It seems like she disappears through most the movie. The film does have some hilarious, memorable characters. Jeremy Piven (Family Man) plays Cusack’s best friend. He wonderfully plays the kind of guy you would hangout with everyday and who is there for you when you need him. I can’t say the same for Beckinsale’s companion played by Molly Shannon of Saturday Night Live. When we first meet her, you wonder if Shannon will be able to pull off the serious roll. It almost seems like she has pulled off the serious act until she becomes a little ditsy girl who reminds us of her roll as the Superstar girl she played on Saturday Night Live. Eugene Levy (American Pie) practically steals the show when he shows up for a few but memorable scenes as a store clerk.
Director Peter Chelsom does a great job creating the passing of time. Clouds rolling quickly by as a clock spins through the time. Car lights blur as they go through the streets. Chelsom creates a perfect, busy environment for the two love seekers.
The film is full of great laughs and surprises as well as superb acting by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. Serendipity picked a perfect time to be released; with the weather getting colder, step in and see Serendipity, it will warm your hearts.
Critic Grade: B+
