It’s the day before Christmas and thankfully not one I’ll be spending the majority of running around doing last minute shopping. Instead, I’m going to enjoy spending it with my partner relaxing at home having an early holiday meal and then watching my most favorite romantic movie that I put into my DVD player each year just before December 25th arrives. What is that movie? Serendipity.
I guess you could say that Serendipity was not actually geared as a Christmas movie when it first came out given much of it takes place during other times of the year. But, since its first scene takes place during the busy Christmas shopping season at Bloomingdales in New York City, it’s become that to me. When this film was actually released in late October of 2001, the world had just gone through some very trying times with the events of 9/11. My own heart had been extremely heavy because of this and I hadn’t felt very Christmassy because of it. But there was something quite magical about the film that after its brief running time of 90 minutes had passed, I had been stirred enough to bring the holiday spirit back into my heart.
The movie itself revolves around John Cusack as Jonathan Trager and Kate Beckinsale as Sara Thomas, who may possibly be two star-crossed lovers destined to be together, but in the Universe’s own unique way. Their story unfolds as each reach for an expensive pair of gloves at the same exact time in the famed department store in lower Manhattan. With one glove in each other’s hand, a moment is shared between the two that becomes enough of a catalyst for them to spend the rest of the day together. Sara invites John to her favorite spot in the Upper East Side, which is a boutique restaurant and dessert shop of the same name as the movie, Serendipity. Jonathan asks why the place is so special to her, which Sara responds it’s in the name itself. She says the name means when things happen by chance and cause good luck or fortune for an individual. Jonathan playfully banters how the pair of gloves was “serendipitous” for the two of them, even though he’s engaged and soon to be married. Sara is obviously flattered but admits to having a boyfriend as well. When their day comes to a close, it’s apparent they have a certain chemistry lacking in their own respective relationships. But when Jonathan eventually asks for her number, fate seems to intervene when the wind suddenly wisps it out of hands and away into a sea of others. Jonathan tries his best to convince her it’s not a sign, but Sara’s quite adamant it most definitely is. Seeing how Sara places so much on the word “Serendipity”, he agrees to another exchange of numbers, but this time in a very strange way. Jonathan is to write his name and number down on a five-dollar bill and she on the inside of her favorite book, Love In The Time Of Cholera. After buying a pack of mints with the money his information is now on, she says she’ll donate her book to one of the local used bookstores tomorrow. Hence the premise of this movie truly begins. Will the five-dollar bill find its way back into her hands? Will the book make its way back into his?
I have watched Serendipity countless times now since I first was enthralled by its charm in the theater all those years ago. Maybe that’s because I ultimately believe God operates in the same type of mysterious ways with each of us or maybe it’s because my heart moves so incredibly every time my eyes and ears are entertained when its playing. Either way, Serendipity is a magical movie that has managed to become a regular part of my life each year. So I look forward to watching it again tonight with my partner, as I know it will once again truly stir my heart and bring out more of that festive holiday spirit…
Have a great Christmas Eve everyone!
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
I have never seen this movie, but I’ve added it to the Netflix queue. Does your partner get as enthralled with the movie as you do? Or does he watch it each year as part of “what I did for love?” 🙂
That I can’t say. I know he enjoys it though because of the way he reacts when watching it. 🙂 Either way, I look forward to what you have to say after watching it. 🙂