Serendipity (2001)

Serendipity is an adorable movie, or any of the words synonyms can apply: cute, sweet etc. Taking place during Christmas NYC the setting is magical and the big apple once again endears itself to the big screen. This is one of the best NYC movies in my opinion. Both Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack are in their element in this romantic-comedy. A great film to watch with a partner.

Sure this movie covers the basics of the romantic comedy. Two attractive leading actors, two funny sidekicks and plot points that cause barriers to true love etc.But this is irrelevant because all of these are overshadowed by the fact the two main characters appear on screen together for a grand total of 15 minutes. And for the rest of the time when they're on their own THEY'RE BORING!Really the only saving graces for this movie are the performances of Jeremy Piven and Molly Shannon. And even then they don't have a lot to work with.So if you're in the mood for mindless, fluffy nonsense where the characters talk about "fate" and "signs" at nauseam this is the movie for you.

Romantic comedies are often cult films. There is a category of people who enjoys "Serendipity" and another who loves "An affair to remember". What you think of a movie like this, depends a lot on your age, experiences and upbringing.I enjoyed "Serendipity" for many reasons. One is the great chemistry between the actors who seem to have enjoyed making this movie. I also used to enjoy it, when I was younger and very much in love, for the message it sent. The message said people were predestined for each other and nothing could keep them apart. Now, that I'm older, I don't believe in this anymore and I'd be quite unhappy to have married any of the women I've been in love with.All the horrors in the movie, getting crushes on other people girlfriends when not being single, cancelling weddings on the wedding day, and making important decisions based on feelings and hunches are taken lightly. The movie justifies them through the implied necessity to fulfill the destiny of the main characters.

Just another wishy-washy, highly improbable, "true love conquers all" fantasy rom-com, which really thinks it clever with all that serependitious "fate" leading up to a big soppy, happy ending.John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale play the literally star-crossed lovers, whose chance meeting over a pair of gloves in Bloomingdales just before Christmas apparently sees them click as only true lovers can despite both being engaged to other people. Through partial design and massively coincidental chance they separate but return years later to their favourite New York locations where wouldn't you know it, they finally catch up with each other and re-ignite their earlier spark.This idea has been done before in the likes of "An Affair To Remember" and naturally "Sleepless in Seattle" but I found it very insubstantial and uninvolving indeed. The two leads are attractive enough but get given some terrible airy-fairy dialogue to spout. I felt that with more grounded writing, plus a few laughs and a decent soundtrack wouldn't have hurt either, but really, besides showing off some nice New York locations, this is one film I'm sorry my path happened upon.