30 Second Bottom Line: A man and a woman meet in a crowded department store a few days before Christmas and strike up a conversation when they try to buy the same item. After spending a few hours together, they reluctantly agree to let fate decide if they ever see each other again.

Story Line: Jonathan (Cusack) meets Sara (Beckinsale) at the glove counter in Bloomingdale's and they spend an evening over conversation and coffee. Is it mere infatuation; or is it love? Each is involved with someone else and they decide to let fate run its course. His name and phone # are written on a $5 bill and she immediately buys a newspaper with it so that it is put back into circulation. Her name and phone # are written in a book, which she sells the next day at a used bookstore. If they are meant to be together, Sara insists, these items will find a way back to each of them.

Some years later, Sara is living in San Francisco, working as a psychotherapist and is engaged to Lars, a New Age flutist (Corbett). Her best friend Eve (Molly Shannon) owns a candle and coffee shop. Jonathan is still in NYC and is fast approaching his wedding day with Halle (Bridget Moynahan). She's passionately in love with him and the closer he gets to the big day, the more nervous he becomes. Jonathan's best friend is Dean (Jeremy Piven), whose characterization shows just how much excellent screen writing can make a difference in a film where intelligent, clever and funny things are said without employing old clichés. Another surefire addition to the cast is the uptight menswear salesman played by Eugene Levy. He helps Jonathan locate Sara's address as part of striking a hard bargain to meet his weekly sales quota. Also adding to the lighthearted feel of this film is the music; uplifting and fresh, almost like the 1970-80's when there was a peak of creativity blended with talent.

As Sara and Jonathan move toward their respective marriage dates, they begin to see signs of fate that make them think they should at least try to find the other before they "give up" and get married. A series of very funny near misses and heart-warming events make Serendipity a real crowd pleaser. I can't ever recall a collective drawing of breath by a packed house of movie-goers because of real emotion for something not based on action, such as an explosion, etc.

Tell Me More About It: Beckinsale's voice sounds like Elizabeth Hurley's and much of their comparative difference ends there. Both are beautiful women but Beckinsale has a glow that seems deeper than a layer of foundation and blush. She is radiant, conveying the charm that was desired but missed in the overblown love story Pearl Harbor.

The only question is just how corny and mushy will the eventual reunion be for Sara and Jonathan. It feels like an adult fairy tale, which seeing just a few weeks after the loss of massive life in the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001, makes you just want to embrace life in New York City.

Somehow the edge that many attribute to NYC residents is now viewed with a certain type of charm. Serendipity is clearly a 3 -3 ½ star movie. But with the difference in how I feel about New York City between September 10 and September 12, I'm adding another ½ star so this comes in at 4 Stars.

Kate Beckinsale: The Golden Bowl	John Cusack: America's Sweethearts
Jeremy Piven: Black Hawk Down	Molly Shannon: Osmosis Jones
Bridget Moynahan: Coyote Ugly	Eugene Levy: American Pie 2
Peter Chelsom: Town and Country

Sara: Kate Beckinsale	Jonathan: John Cusack
Dean: Jeremy Piven	Eve: Molly Shannon
Store Salesman: Eugene Levy	Halle: Bridget Moynahan
Director: Peter Chelsom	Lars: John Corbett