Reel Critics

A matinee is the fate of this film

According to Webster’s Dictionary, serendipity is “an apparent

aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally.”

According to Sara in Miramax’s latest romantic comedy, “Serendipity,”

things happen for a reason. Fate takes a hand in controlling one’s

destiny. Sara’s theory is about to be tested. And I guess you could say

it was my destiny to witness it.

Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) meet during the

Christmas holiday rush at Bloomingdale’s in New York City. In a

last-minute shopping frenzy both reach for a pair of black cashmere

gloves, an intended gift for their significant others. Radiating a

crush-like attraction for each other, they spend the evening enjoying ice

cream, skating in Central Park and sharing ideals and dreams. They

basically fall in love.

In a flirtation that evolves into a test of true fate, Sara inscribes

her name and phone number in a book that she will sell to a used

bookstore; certain that it will find its way back to Jonathan. Out of

necessity more than belief, Jonathan scribbles his name and number on a

$5 bill that is soon passed on to the nearest street vendor. Due to the

first of many mishaps, Sara and Jonathan are separated. So, our

clandestine soul mates part begrudgingly, allowing fate to take its

course.

Several years later, Sara, now living in San Francisco, is engaged and

planning her wedding. While in New York, Jonathan’s wedding will take

place in three days. Haunted by what-could-have-been each one sets off on

a mission to find their soul mate.

Reminiscent of a ‘40s or ‘50s comedy, “Serendipity” is a lighthearted,

mildly enjoyable film filled with close calls, mistaken identities,

slapstick antics and memorable offbeat characters. It’s smartly written

by Marc Klein and well directed by Peter Chelsom, but, foremost, the cast

fits like a well-worn pair of gloves.

Beckinsale is forthright and genuine. Cusack’s boyish charm is

engaging. Molly Shannon as Eve, Sara’s gal pal, and Jeremy Piven as Dean,

Jonathan’s college buddy, are complementary sparring sidekicks. Eugene

Levy as a Bloomingdale’s everything-in-its-place sales clerk is a

scene-stealer.

If I could influence the writer and director with my viewpoint, I’d

suggest balance. Unlike some romantic screen couples where one outmatches

the other, Cusack and Beckinsale impart a noteworthy shared appeal. One

in which the audience is able to root for both of them.

Jonathan and Dean’s investigative antics permeate the film, whereas

Sara and Eve’s calamities aren’t given equal screen time. And while a lot

of distinctiveness is given to Sara’s fiance, the New Age, self-involved

musician (John Corbett), Jonathan’s betrothed (Bridget Moynahan) is

pleasantly nondescript.

And although this doesn’t noticeably harm the film, it would have

benefited from more character development.

With an intelligent script, comfortable cast and all the obvious

date-with-destiny predilections, why doesn’t “Serendipity” work? Its

vignette-like structure lacks cohesion, so despite being an extremely

short film, it still drags.

“Serendipity” is worthy of a matinee or video rental if for one reason

only: No one should ever miss the sidesplitting, scene-stealing Eugene

Levy.

“Serendipity” is rated PG-13 for a scene of sexuality and for brief

language.

* JULIE LOWRANCE is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a Newport Beach

overnight aircraft advertising agency.

‘Bandits’ gets away with comedy

There is some formidable talent involved in making “Bandits,” and that

is just exactly what it takes to make this movie fly.

It’s the typical and often-told tale of gentle and, for the most part,

nonviolent escapees from prison. “Bandits” is almost wholly character

driven and could become incredibly competitive except for the excellence

of each performer.

Joe (Bruce Willis) is the impulsive pseudo-leader who never looks

before he leaps but thinks that he does; Terry (Billy BobThornton) is the

nervous and neurotic hypochondriac who is totally wrapped up in himself

and is suggestible to a fault. Together these two bank-rob their way down

the Oregon and California coast with the intention of acquiring enough

money to build a casino near Acapulco.

Terry and Joe find they need a driver and front man for their bank

heists and fortunately Joe has a cousin who lives nearby. Harvey (Troy

Garity), Joe’s cousin, dreams of becoming a stuntman and plans to go to

Hollywood to make his mark. So, as they are all going the same way,

Harvey comes along.

As they do not wish to risk the lives of innocent bank customers, they

devise a system of spending the night before with the bank manager and

his family so they can help him open the bank in the morning, thereby

avoiding crowded lobbies and incidentally earning the appellation of

“sleepover bandits.”

During Terry’s escape from one of their forays, he has a fender bender

with Kate (Cate Blanchett), who is having a nervous breakdown over her

role in life. She joins the happy threesome as a way of solving her

problems. This girl is super as one-fourth of an amoral quartet of bank

robbers and one-third of a love triangle.

The attention to detail that is paid to each and every aspect of this

film is outstanding. I found myself waiting for the “look” they would

effect for each holdup. Willis definitely looks better with hair, and

Thornton is terrific as a Buffalo Bill look-alike. I’m pretty sure

Blanchett would look good in burlap because she looked great in

everything else she wore.

There were some scenes that brought the house down. I especially liked

the one where the sheriff dashes out of the bank and into the waiting

getaway car in hot pursuit of the bank robbers, who had already stolen

his police car. There were quite a few of these out-and-out funny, almost

vaudevillian, settings.

Woven into this extremely funny series of events is a plot,which

sneaks up on you. The movie starts out describing the finale of the

career of two bank robbers (and possibly kidnappers) who are shooting it

out in the foyer of a bank.

A reality show television host has talked with Joe and Terry and is

showing the interview on TV. His theme is that they have killed each

other, and that’s what happens to overly ambitious bank robbers -- they

have a falling out.

I think I’ll have to go see this again because I’m virtually certain I

missed something hilarious. The repartee ricochets so fast you feel one

step behind most of the time. It is a strain to digest it all. This movie

strikes me as the salvation of the summer. Hope you get to see it.

“Bandits” is rated PG-13 for some sexual content, language and

violence.

* JOAN ANDRE, “over 65,” is Newport Beach resident who does a lot of

volunteer work.