"Serendipity"
By Garrett Chaffin-Quiray

Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) meet by accident during the Christmas shopping rush at Bloomingdale's in Manhattan. Each grabs one half of a set of gloves setting in motion one of the greatest nights either of them have ever had. Unfortunately, both are beholden to other people although Sara casts her lot with Jonathan by trusting in the laws of fate.

His name and phone number are written on a five-dollar bill and put into circulation while hers are put on the inside cover of a book, then sold to a used bookstore. Should either receive the other's contact, their relationship was meant to be. If not, it was but one glorious evening under the stars.

A few years later both have moved on to engagements with other people, not ever having seen the autographed five-dollar bill or book, though not for lack of trying. The lost possibilities weigh heavily as they gaze upon their loving fiancés who are not as perfectly matched as Jonathan and Sara were during their one night together. Naturally events transpire to disrupt this unsatisfying balance but it is to the other people in Jonathan and Sara's live that I can't help but feel sympathy.

Bridget Moynahan and John Corbett are foils for the true love working to bring Jonathan and Sara together. Their affections for the film's two leads are never drawn into question just as they are never made to be bad people. In fact their devotion to the film's stars is repeatedly demonstrated making for a quiet sadness in the movie's story about fulfilling romantic destiny when remembering how two other people's lives are mangled in the process of helping Jonathan and Sara come together.

Based on one of American movie's bigger romantic hoaxes about fated love, Serendipity has the good sense to deliver the necessary happiness with only a few dragging moments of schmaltz. Throughout Mark Klein's script is filled with the syrupy sentiment required of such a formulaic movie but its lighter comic moments are undeniably supplied by the supporting players, not to mention the compatibility and charisma of its leads.

Molly Shannon, alum of Saturday Night Live, is a star on the rise. With turns in TV's Will & Grace and a twitching, near-split personality that makes her very presence something to watch, she plays Sara's best friend with delicious zaniness. The gem of the film, however, aside from glorious views of New York City before the recent marks of global terrorism, is Jonathan's best friend since childhood. Jeremy Piven turns in a terrific supporting performance in the role by being at once devoted to Jonathan but also unusually wise in his advice and perspective on the world.

Look also for an enjoyable cameo by Eugene Levy as a Bloomingdale's clerk and know that the film's director, Peter Chelsom, limited the running time to well under two hours.