Serendipity

In a crowded Manhattan department store, Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) meet over a pair of gloves they both intend to buy for their significant others. The mixup leads to coffee and conversation, but since they’re both involved, they reluctantly part ways.

To be safe, though, the superstitious Sara conducts two tests, writing her name and phone number on the inside cover of a book while having Jonathan do the same to a five dollar bill. She then explains that if either of them should find the book or bill, they’ll know they’re relationship is meant to be.Fast forward what we’re told is a “”few years”” later. We assume the book and the bill have gone undiscovered, as Jonathan and Sara are both set to marry different people, though neither of them seems to have forgotten the magical evening they spent together. In a last ditch effort to find his true love, Jonathan recruits best friend Dean (Jeremy Piven) to help him find Sara, just as she hops a plane with her friend Eve (Molly Shannon) bound for the Big Apple and what she hopes will be her soulmate’s arms.With a tender blend of self-effacing sarcasm and sentiment, as well as a “”lovers on opposite coasts”” subplot, “”Serendipity”” draws comparisons to Nora Ephron’s “”Sleepless in Seattle.”” But Peter Chelsom’s wistful romance embarks down a different path, actively pursuing the requisite coincidences that typically drive such fare instead of merely relying on them. Sara would refer to them as “”twists of fate,”” though we call them plot devices, and they move Cusack’s fruitless search for Sara along all-too-smoothly. The last one, involving a jacket left on a park bench, is a doozy, but completely acceptable in the context of the film. “”Serendipity”” exists solely in the saccharine-sweet fabrication of Manhattan reserved for romantic films like “”An Affair to Remember,”” “”Breakfast at Tiffany’s,”” or even “”When Harry Met Sally.”” As expected, the ideal date picture enchants, but in unconventional ways, as various “”new age”” detours addressing destiny and soulmates, as well as a jazzy soundtrack of original tunes by Alan Silvestri, make the familiar material seem lively and original.Grade: B-THE EXTRASWhat is already a light and fluffy romance comes off that much lighter and fluffier, courtesy of Miramax’s crisp widescreen anamorphic transfer. A Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track backs up the action, both amplified beautifully.In terms of extras, there are a few. Not only does Chelsom contribute a feature-length audio commentary track, he re-appears over the deleted scenes to explain why he felt these particular cuts could be exercised. Since the finished product flows so nicely, I’m inclined to agree. Finally, Chelsom includes his production diary, diving one step further into his thought processes during filming.Foregoing to typical HBO featurette, “Serendipity” instead includes a Starz/Encore “On The Set” look behind the scenes. The name is different, while the content remains the same: interviews, anecdotes, etc. The DVD rounds out with the requisite trailers, while s still gallery and storyboard comparisons will please the more visual folks in the audience.Grade: BOVERALL EXPERIENCE: BPeter Chelsom’s contributions elevate what could have been characterized as a standard “romantic comedy” release. The film is extremely entertaining, and the extras are worth your while.By Sean O’ConnellApril 15, 2002

Updated: April 15, 2002 — 9:20 pm