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Volume CXXXIII, Number 5 |
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Serendipity makes for solid chick-flick romance
MONICA GUZMAN
STAFF WRITER
Urgent message to every unattached Bowdoin student:
The gorgeous guy sitting next to you in government, that girl you've
been wanting to ask out for weeks, the platonic friend you've been considering
dating--prepare to get the ball rolling…Take Your Crush To The Movies
Weekend has arrived. What has brought on this historic opportunity? Serendipity,
of course, which is a gourmet blend of frolicking romance, mischievous
destiny, and "awww"-inspiring cuteness. In other words, these
are the ingredients for the perfect date movie.
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| Sparks fly when Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack meet on a chance encounter in New York City. (ew.com) |
The perfect date movie, by definition, cannot also be a brilliant Oscar-worthy
work of art. Blame this on that loveable bit of quixotic fluff we generally
call "sappiness." Properly placed in a romantic comedy, it makes
single people want a date so badly they want to cry. This is because it
adds an adorable fairy tale element that cleverly hides the reality that
love just doesn't work that way in real life. But sappiness makes us think
it does--even if only for two hours.
Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) and Sarah Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) meet
haphazardly in Bloomingdale's. The amazing evening they spend together
convinces them that there is a romantic connection they cannot ignore,
though they are both involved in other relationships. So, they set up
a way for fate to decide whether or not they will ever be together. What
follows is a charming and wittingly suspenseful story about the humorous
and ironic nature of destiny.
John Cusack has always puzzled me: he's not very physically attractive,
but there's just something about his characters that is just dazzling
(same effect as Tom Hanks). His portrayal of Jonathan Tager is no different.
He's sensitive, caring, utterly romantic, honest, and considerate of women's
feelings. Real-life guys should take notes…watch and learn people!
Watch and learn!
(Sigh)
But I digress.
Kate Beckinsale was so fake and unlikable in Pearl Harbor that I thought
someone was under the influence when choosing her as Cusack's romantic
interest. Besides a little spaciness, however, she manages to keep her
character well in tune with the story. The fact that she didn't have to
fake an American accent really helped.
Sure, the movie keeps these two lovebirds apart for about 95 percent
of its length (could've been a fatal mistake--think back to Brad Pitt
and Julia Roberts in The Mexican), but it skillfully builds up the romantic
suspense, so their final meeting becomes irresistibly magical and well
worth the wait.
So, find a significant other, and set a date. Prepare to set reality
aside and bask in the feather-light glory that is romantic comedy sappiness.
Serendipity calls…
3 out of 4 polar bears