Serendipity (2001)

Originally Written
Saturday, December 22, 2007

Serendipity ranks among my all-time favorite films; it's by far my favorite romantic comedy and a truly underrated holiday classic. Just as the characters in the film fall for each other at first meeting, I instantly fell in love with this movie the first time I saw this on television many years ago, which also happened to be the first time I had ever seen Kate Beckinsale. Can it be that the whole premise of Serendipity (fate), lead me to one of my all-time favorite actresses and films? How ironic.

When Jonathan and Sara meet its love at first sight, but with both of them in relationships Sara decides it's better to let fate decide if they're meant to be together. She writes her name and phone number on the inside cover of a book and Jonathan writes his on the back of a five dollar bill. If one of them comes upon the others information in the future then it's clear they're meant to be together. But while fate seems to want them to be together, it also seems to want to toy with them first. They quickly get separated in the madness of New York City as fate deals both of them a depressing blow. Years later the two of them have appeared to move on with their lives and are both engaged to be married, but as the wedding dates quickly approach fate returns with signs of the past, leading Sara and Jonathan on a maddening attempt to find each other one last time before its too late.

Serendipity's triumph is it's incredibly well written story, the way the circumstances flow together and connection in the end. Is it realistic or reasonable... maybe not... but it's a love story of a chance meeting that most people would love to have, and a classic Hollywood example of love at first sight. Kate Beckinsale is amazing and I instantly fell in love with this film because of her, John Cusack is great as well, and I'm not even a big fan of his. Overall, Serendipity is a must see film and a worthy title to add to the Christmas schedule this year, it's enjoyable, funny, heartwarming and touching; a film I never tire of revisiting.

10/10