This is one of my favorite movies to watch over and over again. I love the theme of love and fate. The movie is charming and lovely. The only part which I would warn parents about is the scene with the nude couple in the house, but you don't see any private body parts being shown. I really enjoyed this movie the first time and the many times I've seen it since. Worth watching, for sure!
Serendipity
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Lightweight romance may appeal to teens.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–15
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Serendipity was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this movie has smoking and drinking (including excessive drinking). A brief sexual situation is inexplicit and played for comedy. There is mild language. A gay character is portrayed sympathetically and without stereotypes. All lead characters are white and middle or upper class.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how we decide to take emotional risks, including the risk of appearing like a "jackass," and how we decide when to act and when to gamble on fate. They might also like to talk about whether there is such a thing as a soulmate, and how to recognize one.
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More on Serendipity
What’s the Story?
Serendipity is (1) a "happy accident" and (2) a New York restaurant that serves sweet, frozen goodies. It is #1 that brings our couple together, as both try to buy a pair of black cashmere gloves at Bloomingdale's, and #2 where romantic sparks fly when Sarah (Kate Beckinsdale) takes Jonathan (John Cusack) there to thank him for letting her have the gloves. There is a strong romantic connection, but both are involved with other people, so they part, with two romantic note-in-a-bottle opportunities for fate to bring them back together. He writes his name and number on a five dollar bill, which she puts back into circulation. And she writes her name and number in a copy of Love in the Time of Cholera, which she sells to a used book store. Years later, as both are about to get married, they are still drawn to each other. So we're in Sleepless in Seattle/When Harry Met Sally land, watching them just miss each other a dozen times until the happily-ever-after ending.
Is It Any Good?
SERENDIPITY is romantic confection with all the weight of a soap bubble, but it has all the sheen and charm of one, too. Cusack and Beckinsdale are just right, giving a small touch of bittersweet reality to the fairy tale. Sarah's insistence on letting fate determine the outcome could make her seem arbitrary and foolish, but Beckinsdale shows us that it is just the result of Sarah's struggle to overcome a deep romanticism. Cusack, always superb in showing us that same struggle makes Jonathan's quest to find Sarah genuinely touching.
The script wobbles at times. The respective fiancés are neither interesting enough to merit their screen time or awful enough to make us feel comfortable about seeing them get dumped. And the near-misses get a little overdone. Adept performances by sidekicks Molly Shannon and Jeremy Piven and by Eugene Levy as a persnickety Bloomingdale's salesman provide buoyancy. And cinematographer John de Borman captures New York City as a dreamy wonderland, with twinkling lights and floating snowflakes.
Movie Details
Studio: Miramax, Director: Peter Chelsom
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/5/2001
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief sexual situation and language
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/5/2001
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief sexual situation and language
Our Members Say
See all 2 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Charming, Lovely Movie
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Good for winter
good for the holidays
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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