In the romantic comedy Serendipity, a chance meeting and a frivolous pact send two strangers on a scavenger hunt of the heart.

Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) are rushing about New York doing some last-minute Christmas shopping.

They both reach for the same pair of gloves to give their significant others.

They laugh. They chat. They have hot chocolate.

They go skating. They flirt.

They think fate is trying to tell them something, so they make a pact.

Sara agrees to put her name and phone number in a book and give it to a used bookseller somewhere in the city.

Jonathan writes his name and phone number on a $5 bill and puts it into circulation.

If they are really meant to be together, he will stumble upon the book or she will receive the bill as change in some future transaction.

Fast forward a decade.

Jonathan is about to marry Hally Silverman (Bridget Moynahan), but he still secretly pines for that nameless girl in his past.

Sara is engaged to Lars (John Corbett), a self-absorbed new-age musician. She, likewise, has never really forgotten that sweet, likable Christmas shopper.

Jonathan has confided his frustration in Dean (Jeremy Piven), his best man.

Only Eve (Molly Shannon) knows about Sara's mystery man and she thinks Sara is a bit too obsessed with an impossible dream.

Serendipity is a variation of Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail in which the main characters spend most of the film trying to connect.

This is actually a plus in this case.

Cusack is not the most credible of romantic leading men as he proved this summer in America's Sweethearts.

He may be witty and show great skill as a physical comedian, but he has limited chemistry with his leading ladies.

The few scenes he has with Beckinsale are his least effective in Serendipity.

He's far more credible when he's riffing with Piven.

They share some of the funniest and most inventive moments in the film.

Beckinsale is a charming pixie.

Her mounting frustration is hilarious.

Peter Chelsom directs with sprightly confidence.

He never attempts to disguise the fact Serendipity is little more than wistful, winning fluff. (More on: Serendipity).

(This film is rated PG)

More Movie Reviews