Serendipity *** (2001, John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Bridget Moynahan, John Corbett, Eugene Levy, Molly Shannon, Jeremy Piven) – Classic Movie Review 1143

Director Peter Chelsom’s likeable 2001 film stars John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, who play Jonathan Trager and Sara Thomas. During the Christmas shopping season in New York City, they meet by chance while trying to buy the same pair of black cashmere gloves at Bloomingdale’s.

Sara asks Jonathan to write his name and phone number on a $5 bill, while she writes her name and number on the inside cover of a copy of Love in the Time of Cholera. If they are meant to be together, he will find the book and she will find the $5 bill, and they will find their way back to each other.

However, leaving it all to fate and destiny, they then sacrifice their love to marry others, but find they can’t forget one another. Several years later, Jonathan is at an engagement party with his fiancée Halley Buchanan (Bridget Moynahan). On the same day Sara comes home to find her famous musician boyfriend Lars Hammond (John Corbett) proposing to her. As their wedding days approach, each find they’re getting cold feet and decide to return to New York to try to find each other again. Will fate bring them back together again?

The stars are well paired, and it’s their warm acting and quirky charm that spark up a thin, contrived, but nicely wistful and diverting romantic comedy. It’s written by Marc Klein with a warm spirit and a good sense of humour.

Eugene Levy, Molly Shannon and Jeremy Piven co-star. The music score is composed by Alan Silvestri.

It was a nice-sized hit. On a budget of $28million, it grossed $75million.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 1143 derekwinnert.com