Serendipity | | Cast : | John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale | | Director : | Peter Chelsom | | Studio : | Miramax | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | October 05, 2001 | | DVD Released Date : | September 07, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 01, 2005 | | Summary | SERENDIPITY Charms Despite Tempting Fate and Trying Patience With Overuse of Whimsy | Content
 | The plot premise, in a particularly streamlined nutshell: In holiday-season Manhattan, Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) and Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) meet cute and, although they both have Significant Others, they end up spending a charming and romantic evening on the town (including coffee and dessert at the aptly-named Serendipity III restaurant). Despite their obvious chemistry, Sara insists on leaving their future up to fate (she turns out to be a therapist, so you'd think she'd know better, but more on that momentarily), whereupon they get separated in the Waldorf=Astoria. Fast-forward a few years: Sara and Jon are both engaged to others, but can't stop thinking about one another, so they each take a last stab at finding each other again before their respective nuptials. Knowing I'm a big John Cusack fan, a friend of mine recommended I rent SERENDIPITY. Between a parade of people phoning us and our own busy schedules, however, I had almost as much trouble getting to finally sit down and watch the DVD from start to finish as Jon and Sara did trying to get back together in the film itself! But it was worth the effort: even though I was growling at Sara under my breath for being so stupid as to leave their budding romance up to fate instead of running off with Jon when she had the chance (and was Sara so new to NYC that it never occurred to her that other people might take Jon's elevator in the Waldorf=Astoria during their decisive elevator race? Do fate and common sense have to be mutually exclusive?), I found Cusack and Beckinsale so endearing and so full of romantic chemistry (and they both looked yummy, I might add) that I found myself forgiving a lot and rooting for them to get back together. Marc Klein's script is so chock-full of funny and frustrating near-misses that at times I found SERENDIPITY as suspenseful as a Hitchcock film! :-) NYC and San Francisco locations are used wonderfully (I was pleased to see that although the second floor of Serendipity III as shown in the film was quiet enough for Sara and Jon to hear each other talk, it was still as crowded as it usually is on a holiday week). Cusack and Beckinsale are surrounded by a delightful supporting cast, too, particularly Jeremy Piven and Molly Shannon as their respective best friends and the scene-stealing Eugene Levy as an officious, self-serving Bloomingdale's salesman. I also found it refreshing that the filmmakers didn't take the obvious route of making the leads' current Significant Others so horrible that you can't imagine what attracted Our Heroes to these creeps in the first place (that sort of thing always makes me lose respect for both the protagonist *and* the screenwriter). Bridget Moynihan and John Corbett (did the casting directors just stroll on over to the set of SEX AND THE CITY one day and say "Who's free to make a movie?" :-) were appealing enough that I could understand what Cusack and Beckinsale saw in them, yet they were just self-absorbed enough and not-quite-on-our-heroes'-wavelength enough that I didn't feel bad when they got dumped. The extras on the DVD are worth a look; the scenes that were deleted were pleasant enough, but I agree that the film works better without them. If romantic whimsy is your bag, give SERENDIPITY a try.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 16, 2005 | | Summary | DESTINY...WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR | Content
| Serendipity: noun: faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.
What a clever title to a movie. I love it!!! So clever. I didn't know serendipity was a real word. I'm so glad it is. I saw 'Serendipity' and loved every second of it! I can totally relate to it, or at the very least dream that something like this could really be possible for people anywhere.
Two people meet who seem so perfect for each other, are put to the ultimate test. Is it really their destiny to be together or just a fleeting romantic attraction that was never really meant to be?
To test fate and destiny, Jonathan (John Cusack) is persuaded by Sara (Kate Beckinsale), to write his phone number on a money note travelling from wallet and purse, in the hope of reaching her again. While Sara signs her name and address in the front page of one of Jonathan's favorite books and sells the book to a bookshop by her in the hope he'll find it one day and be in contact again.
A pair of black cashmier gloves also take Jonathan and Sara's fancy - but are then split in two. One glove for each of them. Intended to spur each character on and never stop looking until they meet again and the pair of gloves match.
John Cusack is an ideal lead, and Kate Beckingsale is absolutely ravishing in this sweet, time driven, life altering tale.
One thing I noticed was they never asked each other what number each of them pressed in the lift. If they had I'm sure it would have been an even sweeter indication for them to decide if the time for them was right or wrong.
Serendipity is a movie that gives me a lot of hope. It warms my heart against the snow and I'd want to skate and dance on the ice with someone I love. Pull them close to whisper in their ear, hold them close, and breath in the purfume on their neck. This movie is nothing short of wonderful! For anyone who appreciates a charming romantic tale. I'd love to live in a serendipity world! |
| Rating | | | Date | July 03, 2005 | | Summary | Great date movie or for night on the couch with your sweetie | Content
| For those who love a good romantic comedy, and have the capability to suspend disbelief, Serendipity will be a movie that you will enjoy. Full of solid acting performances by John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven, and Molly Shannon, and a very amusing turn by John Corbett (channeling what Aidan might have been like after Carrie dumped him and he turned to Eastern music), the movie provides a solid romantic framework in which the actors can excel.
The twists and turns of fate, the what could have been moments that we all have in our lives, our own personal experiences extended into the What If of the movie make this so enjoyable. Granted you have to suspend disbelief at some of the events, but any romantic comedy forces you to do so.
This is a movie in which you genuinely root for the two leads to get together in the end. You want the happy ending for them, and that speaks to the writing and acting. This is a movie that is perfect for the hopeless romantic or for a night snuggled up on the coach. It's not Oscar material, but it is extremely likable. Well worth the rent fee, or the purchase for your collection. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 29, 2005 | | Summary | Signs of love | Content
| Sometimes, destiny creates accidents. We called them signs. Other times, those signs can bring us true love.
Such an ultra romantic idea is the base of the film Serendipity, a tender fable that pays homage to New York as the city of romance and puts destiny in Cupid's role.
John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale are Johnathan and Sara, two strangers that meet in Bloomingdale's, in the midst of Christmas shopping. They like each other instantly and, after spending the night together, Sara is convinced that, if she and Jonathan are meant for each other, destiny will find a way to unite them again.
The years go by and the couple goes separate ways. Just about to get married with different people, the signs appear again and both John and Sara keep thinking about the other one and the fact that they could be soul mates.
A charming premise, although completely unrealistic, Serendipity takes us for a road full of incidents, magical coincidences, races against time and a complete faith in the triumph of love.
Cleverly written, well acted and displaying beautiful NY sights, this is a very bubbly and sweet movie. For happy endings fans, it will be an obligation to see it. For the rest of us cynics, it will be a waste of time.
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| Rating | | | Date | May 01, 2005 | | Summary | The only good thing was John Cusack | Content
| This movie was soooooo boring and stupid, why would these two people give up such a good thing over superstition? And after
John Cusack makes a committment to marry his girlfriend he spoils his wedding just to again run after some girl who was stupid enough to make him run in circles to please her silly fancies. The first time I watched this movie I shut it off even before it had begun, then felt bad and then tried to finish it. Bad Idea. Its an irritating movie about romance gone absolutely bonkers. Don't waste your money even to rent this unless you are a die-hard romance fan.
AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG. |
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