MovieChat Forums > Serendipity (2001) Discussion > Cute film, but some problems

Cute film, but some problems

posted 17 years ago by jgroub
34 replies | jump to latest

Let's get this out of the way. I liked the film, I know it's a romantic comedy, so it can't be held to the same movie-making standards. I am willing to overlook a lot. But please.

First off, "Sara Thomas"? Could they possibly come up with a more whitebread name than that? (Sarcasm.) How about Sara Tomashevsky? I mean, go to www.whitepages.com and type in Sara Thomas. There are 113 in California, 5 in SF alone! That's plain silly. (And I know she's English, and Tomashevsky doesn't quite fit, but you know what I mean.)

One guy picking up chairs after a busted wedding? In the Waldorf? I don't think so. And, if they were packing up the chairs, they would have had someone would've taken the sign down too. Remember, he did say it had been called off in the morning. There's a reason why it's a 5-star hotel, and it's not for leaving extraneous wedding signs around.

Paper money does not last 6 years in circulation. It wears out and gets destroyed by the mint after about 18 months.

That French guy not remembering Kate Beckinsale? Kate Beckinsale!?! Are you kidding me? If I had lived for a few months with Kate Beckinsale, you bet your sweet a$$ I'd remember.

The skating rink where they were skating - Wollman Rink - is never, ever, that uncrowded. It's always packed.

As is Serendipity. There's lines out the door of that place at all times. Except when it's closed by the Board of Health. (And I know there was a scene on the DVD that showed them waiting in line. I'm just busting your hump now.)

Can someone explain something to me: why did she get the flier about Chelsea Piers and immediately need to go there, thinking that's where he'd be? That didn't make any sense and left me scratching my head.

And that little sh!t in the devil costume. Someone needed to smack him but good.

By the way, the trivia section is wrong about seeing stars in New York. I live here, you can see them. Especially since they were in the park, you could definitely see Cassiopeia. It's a fairly bright constellation.

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] cliff_guitarist 15 years ago

You are correct sir, Wollman Rink and Serendipity 3 are unbelievably crowded around Christmas time. The Waldorf would have had that wedding cleaned up in half an hour. The suspension of disbelief is assumed when talking about cinematic-make-believe NYC. What is less forgivable is the fact that this movie ranks in the lowest tier of NY-based romcoms.

Fantastic location scout, great score, wonderful cinematography - it's a shame the writing couldn't keep up. The Piven/Cusack chemistry didn't have the usual "pop", Eugene Levy was acting in an entirely different film altogether, and the Louis Armstrong intro/outro thing was very "When Harry Met Sally/You've Got Mail."

That being said, I don't think it's a particularly bad film, just one that landed well below expectations considering it's cast and premise. I'm not sure if that was the fault of Marc Klein - who has a tendency to write tension-free saccharine-stuffed fare (see: A Good Year), or director Peter Chelsom (see: Hannah Montana/Shall We Dance).

Annual holiday play has snowballed Serendipity and The Family Man to the point of cultural significance. I actually enjoy watching it at least once a year around Christmas time.

[–] jgroub 15 years ago

Thanks for agreeing - I appreciate the vote of support. And the first thing I said, I didn't think it was a bad film. I enjoyed it, but mostly because I've got a crush on Beckinsale, I grew up with Cusack (in the movies - he's my age), and I like Piven, too. And again, in response to some of the other responses to me on this thread (not you, cliff), yes, I get it that in a rom-com you have to suspend your disbelief a lot. But can't a guy point out problems without getting stomped on?

Now that you point it out, the chemistry between Cusack and Piven was a little off in this movie, and your line "Eugene Levy was acting in an entirely different film altogether" also resonates. He's funny, but he just wasn't quite right for this movie.

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RickStarr11 15 years ago

**Can someone explain something to me: why did she get the flier about Chelsea Piers and immediately need to go there**

When they first meet Sara asks what he* wants for Christmas, and he says "golf clubs." My wife completely missed that, too. I think they should have added a little emphasis - maybe he takes a little Johnny Carson swing or something. Dunno. It's a fine line; you don't want to make it so obvious that it's going to come back later in the film, but you need to "plant" it a little better than they did in this case.

[–] stephenvacca61 14 years ago

She went to the golf pier because in the beginning of the movie Jonathan showed interest in playing golf.

Take care, Be well, and Enjoy life!

[–] davidpaq 14 years ago

In the first shot of Serendipity (the restaurant) there is a substantial line going out the door. So perhaps the restaurant was wildy popular before the release of the film, as depicted in the film.

[–] waters-9 13 years ago

I didn't make the connection with the golf clubs and Chelsea Pier either, so thanks for clearing that up.

I wish there was a way around the whole 555 thing for movie phone numbers. It's so fake and it's fakeness takes me out of the story for a second or two.

There is a local car dealer who has the number 867-5309 presumably on purpose because the song made it memorable.

[–] duckofprey 11 years ago

Paper money does not last 6 years in circulation. It wears out and gets destroyed by the mint after about 18 months.

On average maybe, but there is a bell curve for every stat.

www.wheresgeorge.com

I myself am a smalltime user of this Where's George "service" and have had 7 bills hit after having been in this system at least 6 years. (out of 286 total I have entered, 233 being in the system over 6 years now)

So, obviously some bills DO last that long or longer, of course depending upon a wide myriad of reasons.

[–] IMDB_Vits 11 years ago

SARA had a very common name so that it would be harder for JONATHAN to found her. Otherwise, the movie would've been shorter.

[–] tyshimah3 11 years ago

I've read your posts and this entire thread and no one mentioned the kid... OMG!! That little devil... see what I did there? lol.

Everything else is basically explained and explained well.

"Do you even remember what you came here to find?"