Serendipity

Review by By Clint Morris

"A fortunate accident" is how Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) defines the meaning of Serendipity to Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) early on in Peter Chelsom's romantic comedy of the same name. Accident or not, popcorn eye-mister "Serendipity" is one of the loveliest romantic comedies you'll have the gratification of watching this year.

1990. The Christmas Shopping Holiday Rush. Jonathan wants a pair of black gloves for his girlfriend. Sara has the same idea - and predictably they bump into each other in the same department. What could have been a polite exchange of words about cashmere gloves results in a magical night they will both never forget. But was their night of waltzing in the snow filled streets, discovering each other's innermost secrets and ice-skating together just a one-off?

Fate Only knows.

Sara's your token believer: "If it's meant to be, it will be" she tells her admirer before scribbling her phone number on front page of a novel. Sara informs Jonathan she will sell it to a second hand bookstore - any second hand bookstore. If Jonathan ends up finding the book, the one with the phone number on it, it's a sign that they are supposed to be together. To cement the agreement, Jonathan scribbles his number onto a Dollar note before it leaves his hands and into a stranger's mitt.

Years later, faced with the possibility of sharing their futures with incongruous partners, they decide to give destiny a final helping hand, attempting to hunt down that infamous book and dollar note respectively, so they can find their way back to each other.

Notions of fate and destiny have become somewhat of a staple to the romantic comedies of late (think the last few Meg Ryan comedies). Writer Marc Klein is pretty much following the blueprint of these similar films , from the appropriate pacing to the clichéd characters, but where "Serendipity" rises above it's recent predecessors is in the casting. Cusack and Beckinsale shine.

Not only are they engaging to watch, but also the spark their characters ignite is highly identifiable. Of the supporting players, the lively comic instincts of Molly Shannon and Jeremy Piven elevate what could have easily been stock best friend roles, and both John Corbett and Eugene Levy have small but memorable roles.

With it's stunning NYC Winter backdrop, memorable characters and sublime pacing, Serendipity - like fairy floss - is silently sleet, satisfying and hugely fluffy.

3.5 out of 5

Serendipity
Australian release: Commences January 17th across Australia
Cast: John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven, Molly Shanon, Eugene Levy, Bridget Moynahan, John Corbett.
Director: Peter Chelsom.
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