John Cusack is at it again in his latest romantic comedy, Serendipity. This time he meets the lovely Kate Beckinsale, and the one night they spend together turns out to be more than enough to make Cusack search for her high and low throughout the rest of the movie after they go their separate ways. Our reporters, Kit Bowen and Noah Davis, discuss whether or not they think the film fared well in this genre, and take a look at Cusack’s career.
Hollywood.com: Serendipity falls into that tried-and-true genre of romantic comedies. Does it hold up?
Kit Bowen: There were some very funny moments. Cusack will always be good to me. I just really enjoy his work. But mostly the movie falls into the same old romantic comedy groove. Nothing really new to offer.
Noah Davis: Wow, I can’t believe the “He” part of this duo liked the movie more than the “She.” After all, this is a romantic comedy. Serendipity may be calculated, yet for some reason all that hard work never prevents it from being genuinely charming. That hard work does prevent it from going totally sappy, and this “He” hates totally sappy. Both leads’ performances are so polished that, were they older, it would be possible to speak of their performances as the work of old pros.
Hollywood.com: Speaking of Cusack, he comes full circle with this movie, as he got his big break in 1985 with the (teen) romantic comedy The Sure Thing. What makes Cusack seem so right for the genre?
Davis: Cusack acts more like a man than most on-screen fellas. Instead of some overly macho posturing, one gets the real sense that in Serendipity, Cusack’s Jonathan is tortured by disappointment he tries to talk himself out of searching for Sara. It’s the look of someone tamping down his spirit, settling for less than he can be. And we don’t get to see the real Jonathan except when he’s with Sara, a device that’s usually held over for the women in romantic comedies.
Bowen: How profound, Noah. Did we take our wise pill this morning? Cusack does have a quality to him unlike other actors, which makes him vulnerable yet strong at the same time. But I find it interesting in his last three films (this one, America’s Sweethearts and High Fidelity) he’s gone back to his roots, only now he’s slightly older and wiser. After his smash 1989 hit Say Anything…, he swore up and down he wasn’t going to do anymore romantic comedies and promptly made the intense The Grifters. Since then, he’s mostly kept his word, but lately it looks like he’s changed his mind. And that’s a good thing. This kind of material suits him well.
Hollywood.com: Of his leading actresses, which one do you think he had the best chemistry with?
Bowen: He was so damn cute and sexy in Say Anything…, but I don’t think it had anything to do with Ione Skye. For me, I think he was unbelievable with Annette Bening in The Grifters. I know it’s not a romantic comedy, but they had an amazing fire.
Davis: I would have to say Cusack had the best chemistry with Skye in Say Anything…. Cusack wasn’t half the actor then that he is now, but the connection between the two was palpable and real. His work here with Beckinsale is a close second.
Hollywood.com: Serendipity was filmed in Manhattan and originally had some shots, since electronically excised, of the World Trade Center. Was that necessary? Should every movie that’s been shot in New York and not yet released have the World Trade Center removed?
Davis: Perhaps it was somewhat appropriate, but I don’t think it was necessary, and I don’t think it needs to be done in any movie moving forward. I don’t think we need to forget that the World Trade Center existed, and it’s a shame that movie studios feel we can’t handle seeing the stricken buildings. Terrorism is a blight on humanity that shouldn’t be pandered to.
Bowen: I agree completely. It’s ridiculous Hollywood is bending over backwards trying to be politically correct. Yes, the WTC is gone, but people want to remember it. They were icons of America’s strength that should be revered.
