When I saw this film was directed by Peter Chesholm, director of the marvellous 'The Mighty' I was looking forward to seeing it, despite an uninspiring trailer. Unfortunately, despite masterful direction, it could not be redeemed. 'Serendipity' is hindered by a predictable plot, wafer thin jokes and insipid performances.
Reasons to SEE this film:
1 - New York looks fabulous. On a serious note, I expect that many would find escapism in the way New York is captured in this film, after the horrific events of September 11th. Chesholm has encapsulated the magical essence of the city wonderfully. The New York we all know and love is on full display from beginning to end.
2 - The music. The soundtrack is excellent, mainly because of one man: David Gray. His lilting and understated scores are out of place in this hackneyed film, but add to it nevertheless.
3 - There are some lightly comic moments. I think about three in total. But it is very, very gentle comedy. Gentle being the operative word.
4 - The direction is excellent. Peter Chesholm is a fabulous director as he proved with 'The Mighty'. He's wasting his time, and his talent here. For me the highlights of the film were the sections where we were shown aspects of the city and footage of scenery to music. These provided a break from the monotony of the cream cracker thin plot and 'written on the morning of the shoot' screenplay.
Reasons to AVOID this film:
1 - Representation of the English. To every non-UK reader reading this, can I just take the time to assure you that there is more variation to the English dialect than the stereotypical Kate Beckinsale voice? This is just a personal grievance. It seemed to me she was cast SOLELY on the basis of her English Rose beauty and Received Pronunciation voice. As a result of these superfical reasons, she falls flat, in a way that Kate Winslet wouldn't have.
2 - Kate Beckinsale. I like to call her Kate "Not Winslet" Beckinsale, depite the comparisons made between the two actresses after 'Pearl Harbour'. She is a beautiful woman, but she does not have the charisma and spice of Kate Winslet. In this film she just simpers. Of course, that could be because she isn't given much material to play with, but she still is not a primary reason to rush to the cinema. All round, I found performances weak and flat, except the actor who played John Cusack's best friend. He was under used.
3 - The plot is so unbelievably predictable that you find yourself writing the script in your head, and knowing what event will come next. This is not my psychic ability, more the unwritten rules of the RomCom unfolding in traditional fashion. Please give us something new. The words trite, hackneyed and unoriginal spring to mind.
4 - It's called a "Romantic COMEDY" but that last word is debateable. I would say the film has about two funny jokes and one instance of physical comedy. All of these are contained within the trailer. Therefore, viewing the trailer provides as much instance of comedy as viewing the entire film. Surely this is not how it should be.
In a nutshell, 'Serendipity' is the cinematic equivalent of a nice cup of tea which is starting to go cold. It's just predicatable, bland but amiable. Don't rush to the cinema to see it, but if it's a choice between that and 'The Princess Diaries' perhaps plump for the former.
Reasons to SEE this film:
1 - New York looks fabulous. On a serious note, I expect that many would find escapism in the way New York is captured in this film, after the horrific events of September 11th. Chesholm has encapsulated the magical essence of the city wonderfully. The New York we all know and love is on full display from beginning to end.
2 - The music. The soundtrack is excellent, mainly because of one man: David Gray. His lilting and understated scores are out of place in this hackneyed film, but add to it nevertheless.
3 - There are some lightly comic moments. I think about three in total. But it is very, very gentle comedy. Gentle being the operative word.
4 - The direction is excellent. Peter Chesholm is a fabulous director as he proved with 'The Mighty'. He's wasting his time, and his talent here. For me the highlights of the film were the sections where we were shown aspects of the city and footage of scenery to music. These provided a break from the monotony of the cream cracker thin plot and 'written on the morning of the shoot' screenplay.
Reasons to AVOID this film:
1 - Representation of the English. To every non-UK reader reading this, can I just take the time to assure you that there is more variation to the English dialect than the stereotypical Kate Beckinsale voice? This is just a personal grievance. It seemed to me she was cast SOLELY on the basis of her English Rose beauty and Received Pronunciation voice. As a result of these superfical reasons, she falls flat, in a way that Kate Winslet wouldn't have.
2 - Kate Beckinsale. I like to call her Kate "Not Winslet" Beckinsale, depite the comparisons made between the two actresses after 'Pearl Harbour'. She is a beautiful woman, but she does not have the charisma and spice of Kate Winslet. In this film she just simpers. Of course, that could be because she isn't given much material to play with, but she still is not a primary reason to rush to the cinema. All round, I found performances weak and flat, except the actor who played John Cusack's best friend. He was under used.
3 - The plot is so unbelievably predictable that you find yourself writing the script in your head, and knowing what event will come next. This is not my psychic ability, more the unwritten rules of the RomCom unfolding in traditional fashion. Please give us something new. The words trite, hackneyed and unoriginal spring to mind.
4 - It's called a "Romantic COMEDY" but that last word is debateable. I would say the film has about two funny jokes and one instance of physical comedy. All of these are contained within the trailer. Therefore, viewing the trailer provides as much instance of comedy as viewing the entire film. Surely this is not how it should be.
In a nutshell, 'Serendipity' is the cinematic equivalent of a nice cup of tea which is starting to go cold. It's just predicatable, bland but amiable. Don't rush to the cinema to see it, but if it's a choice between that and 'The Princess Diaries' perhaps plump for the former.