Review of Serendipity

Introduction

This is a very strange brew of a romantic comedy. It contains all the elements required but feels a little bit clunky in its execution. John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale play a pair of thirty-somethings who are both already involved with a significant other. The problem is they find they have some odd common bond. He is eager to act on this but she is not so sure. Instead she resorts to some tests of fate to see if they are really soul mates. One of these tests is to write her name and phone number in a book and sell that book to a second hand store. If the book makes it back to him, there meant to be together. These obviously backfire and the couple are parted.

Years later each has moved on. He is on the verge of marriage and Beckinsale`s character is living the high life as the girlfriend of a world music impresario. The problem is he hasn`t let go. He`s always checked out every second hand book store hoping he`ll find the copy she signed. She also begins to wonder what the future would have been like with him. The whole film takes a dramatic turn as the two try to fine each other. The movie is tinged in sadness and has a few good comedy moments. But fails to hit the peek that other movies such as Sleepless in Seattle and Notting Hill conquer.

Video

The image is a very clean stable image presented in an anamorphic 1:85.1 ratio. The colours are bright and vivid with no visible bleeding or digital artifacts. The blacks remain solid and whites are sharp with only a small amount of haloing in very bright areas. The menus are static with a slight underscore or music looped from the main feature.

Audio

The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is nice and enveloping using some great subtle rear ambient effects.
Dialogue is strident throughout and needs to be in a movie that is narrative based. There`s never a need for massive bass in this movie but when its required it does pack a punch. The best use of sound is for the background score which fills the room fabulously, this does get lost on some DVDs.

Features

Not a bad mix. You get a feature commentary track with director Pete Chelsom which contains some nice anecdotes. A John Cusack track would have been nicer. Behind-The-Scenes Starz Encore "On The Set" is short and sweet with nothing that really grabs your attention. You also get Peter Chelsom`s Production Diary which is of reasonable interest and a series of deleted oand extended scenes with Commentary by Director Peter Chelsom. These are obvious trims to keep the movie to a reasonable running time and offer little more than padded dialogue elements to set up other scenes. The usual still gallery and theatrical trailer are here plus a storyboard comparison section.

Conclusion

A quaint but not brilliant rom. com. You feel left a little wanting after viewing, as it never delivers a the really gushy ending that has you reaching for the Tempo Ultra(TM). The DVD is also a little hit and miss with great picture and sound but let down by some average extras.