New York during the holidays is the perfect magical setting for a love story, and in “Serendipity” the drama is enhanced by a chance meeting in Bloomingdale’s five days before Christmas.
Amid the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) are brought together by a pair of black cashmere gloves that they both grab for at the same time.
After much banter over who should buy the gloves, the two decide to have coffee in a little cafÇ called Serendipity. Sara, who is a firm believer in fate, is attracted to the cafÇ because of its peculiar name.
The two connect but Sara puts fate to the test by setting up a number of experiments to check if they are truly meant to be together. Unfortunately, the two end up separating because the last test was foiled.
Ten years, 3,000 miles, and two fiancÇs later, Jonathan and Sara embark on an adventure to give fate one last chance to unite them. Fate plays a few tricks and games on the two, but in the end, as the old saying goes, “If you love something, and you set it free, if it comes back it was meant to be!”
Directed by Peter Chelson, “Serendipity” is a romantic comedy of sorts. Between the magical romantic meeting, and the funny, yet suspenseful obstacles of finding each other, it is an exciting movie that captures the audience’s attention from beginning to end, waiting for the moment of truth and the inevitable outcome.
The casting of Jonathan and Sara could not have been more perfect. Cusack and Beckinsale just click on screen and play their parts extremely well. One can almost sense Sara’s desire along with her, or feel Jonathan’s pain as he struggles looking through every single bookstore for the book with Sara’s phone number.
In the end, everyone knows how the story will turn out. However, the difference with this movie is that it is in a magical setting, with great actors, and surreal plot twists. One cannot help but gasp or encourage the characters along as the movie goes along. I myself at times found myself saying “no, look to your left,” or “wait a minute or two longer!”