|
Year
: 2001
Director:
Peter Chelsom
Starring:
John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale. |
Serendipity
It's
strange that you of all people should find this
film, on this page, today of all days - don't you
think? I'm glad you found it when you did - but what
else can you find on this page? (Fortune favours
the brave).
It's
Christmas Eve in Bloomingdale's department
store. Two strangers Jonathan and Sara are trying
to buy up the last pair of black gloves left
in the store. Eventually Jonathan steps back
and lets Sara buy the gloves.
Sara repays his kindness by offering to buy
him a hot chocolate. In the cafe
(called “Serendipity”)
they chat, and both can feel an undeniable
chemistry and attraction to each other, so
much so they head off for some romantic
ice skating. At the end of the evening Jonathan
asks Sara for her phone number, but she
is unsure whether to or not. In the end she
decides to leave it in the hands of fate. She
gets Jonathon to write his name and number
on a bank note which is immediately used
to pay for some gum,
She in turn promises to write her own name
and number in a book called "Love
in the time of Cholera" that she will sell to a used bookstore. If these
items get found by the other then they will know that it was meant to be? But
was it meant to be?
Ok
it's a Christmas themed rom-com. Not as slushy
as you might expect, very easy to watch, and it
doesn't try too hard. As rom coms go, this is far
less offensive than almost every other film in
the genre. The performances here are well judged
and nicely underplayed by both Cusack and Kate
Beckinsale (who is a seriously underrated actress
who often seems intent on playing terrible
"in it for the money" roles). The film rolls along
quite nicely, if unspectacularly, whilst still
holding your attention with the unfolding plot.
So if you are looking for a romance
led Christmas movie, or one that doesn't require
too much thought, this is probably the one worth
checking out.
Another
reason to love this film is that the soundtrack
contains two of the most truly beautiful songs
ever written - Northern Sky and Black Eyed Dog
both by Nick Drake. RIP.
Serendipity is
fated to be placed at December 13th on our Christmas
movies guide (USA edition).
Buy
this film and more from our Christmas
DVD store in association with Amazon.com
