October 20, 2025 • 34 mins
This podcast episode delves deeply into the film "Serendipity," a romantic comedy that examines the complexities of fate and love. We, the hosts, express our appreciation for John Cusack's performance and the film's charming narrative, despite acknowledging its numerous implausibilities. Throughout our discussion, we highlight the engaging chemistry between the characters and the film's ability to evoke nostalgia for love and connection. We also reflect on the film's unique moments, such as memorable scenes and character interactions, which contribute to its enduring appeal. Ultimately, we arrive at a consensus, rating the film three and a half out of five, recognizing its entertainment value while remaining critical of its shortcomings.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
I didn't like KateBeckinsale's boyfriend either.
But dude, that first song,that's a banger, dude.
In the video, get the.
It's like top of the sittingon the couch going, I could get behind
this.
(00:26):
Welcome to the what's Alreadypodcast where we fashion ourselves
cinematic judge and Jerry.
My name is JJ Carter.
I'm here with my co host, Alec Burgess.
Let's get it.
We appreciate you tuning in.
Go ahead, hit that.
Follow, subscribe like bellnotification buttons.
Hit them all.
Helps us grow the podcast.
You can also help help us growthe podcast by telling a friend,
family member about us co workers.
(00:46):
We'll take those too.
We'll take weird people thatbelieve in fate way too much.
We'll take those guys, awkwarddudes that don't necessarily believe
in fate.
Until.
Anyway, I'm stretching here,but like, yeah, you know, tell some
people about us and we'llappreciate it.
(01:06):
You can also support us bygoing and checking out Patreon.
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It's not cheap to do thesethings, but it will also allow you
to see a bunch of extra stuffand even get involved.
(01:27):
Depending on how high up thepaywall you go, you can force us
to watch whatever movie you want.
And there have been some doozies.
Yeah.
And if you haven't noticed,we're back down to two.
We lost Matson.
Apparently.
I'm air quoting for good.
We.
We.
We have an over under on howlong before he comes back, so we'll
(01:49):
see who wins that particular bet.
But for now, it's just me andAlec and that's okay.
We like doing this stuff.
We've upgraded our visuals,things like that.
So if you're listening on thepodcast, probably won't notice much
other than the air quote.
Man of the people's gone.
(02:09):
If you're watching us though,you can see there's some.
There's some differences.
Yeah.
What's nice is our averagescore that we give movies just like
shot up 4 percentage points.
Gonna be in sync, not at wildone off.
Like zeros for no reason or.
So it'll be.
(02:30):
It'll be much tighter groupingwhen we're starting to rate.
And you guys will see that.
Yeah.
And comedy will actually berecognized as actually funny.
Yes.
Yeah.
True, true funny instead ofrandomly funny.
Anyway, we've.
We've lingered we're on weekthree of John Cusack month here in
(02:52):
October.
To round out week three or tokick off week three, whatever the
hell terminology you want to use.
We're kicking into serendipity.
It was released October 5th.
Well, that was close.
2001.
Wow.
God, what is that, 24 years ago?
Jesus.
God, that makes me feel old.
It was written by Mark Klein.
(03:14):
It was directed by PeterChelsum, stars John Cusack, Kate
Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven,Bridget Moynihan, Eugene Levy, Lily
Levine, David Sparrow, AnnTalman, and wow, why is what's her
face not on here?
The friend.
What?
I should have looked at that.
What was her.
What's the.
(03:34):
I can't stand her.
She said.
Yeah.
We'Ve done something with her recently.
Yeah, we have.
Oh, God, what's her name?
I can't believe.
I mean, John Corbett's in this too.
There's another name that getsoverlooked for some reason.
Molly Shannon.
Yeah, that was weird.
Like, sometimes the.
Listen, I love IMDb, butsometimes they have weird, like,
(03:59):
random man on the street isabove Molly Shannon in this movie's
casting.
But sure, whatever.
Listen, the movie's about acouple who search for each other
years.
Search for each other yearsafter the night they first met, fell
in love, and separated,convinced that one day they'd end
up together.
I.
That's might be one of theworst synopsises that we've ever
(04:21):
had.
Like, while some of it's kindof accurate, it's pretty inaccurate.
But anyway, Jesus, we're offto a great start.
Great start.
This is my movie.
Yes.
With.
This is the next two or bothmy movies.
Yeah, I know.
I.
Listen, I picked this for acouple reasons.
(04:42):
One's to mess with Matsonbecause I knew he would absolutely
abhor this movie, while at thesame time his wife probably would
love it.
And so it was kind of meant tobe a torture device.
But with that said, this is amovie that, when I was a young man
in my early 20s and, like,still optimistic about love, if you
(05:05):
will.
Like, I thought this was kindof cool movie.
And a couple of reasons.
I mean, I watched it because Ilike John Cusack, but I love Kate
Beckinsale.
Like, she was always like,I've always loved Kate Beckinsale.
I think she's a great actress.
She's gorgeous, like, all the things.
So the two of them together,especially at the time, I was like,
(05:25):
hell, yeah, I'm gonna watchthis movie.
And then for some reason, mysick, twisted ass, like, really enjoyed
it.
So it was like, one of thosethings that I. I've watched this
a million times, and I know.
Let me preface and say that Iknow really how bad this movie can
be, like, from a certainperspective, but I just enjoy myself
watching it.
(05:45):
Like, that's like.
I think it's funny.
I think there's reallyhumorous parts.
Like, the.
The banter between Cusack andPiven is just on another level.
And then you throw in what'shis face, the Eugene Levy, and it's
like, comedy gold.
And so there's just moments inthis movie that are damn near perfection,
(06:08):
that outweigh, to me at least, the.
Okay, this is not.
We can move on from what we're doing.
And there's some.
That's just so ridiculous.
Like, a lot of the golf club.
Like, the golf stuff is so stupid.
But, like.
So, yeah.
I mean, I'm not an.
I'm not an unrealistic humanbeing to understand that this movie's
(06:30):
not great in a lot of ways.
But it just got me when I.
When I was in my.
Like I said, I think I was,like, 22, 23 when I first saw this,
because 2001, I was living inArizona and not watching movies,
but when I got home in 2022, Iwould have watched this because Kate
Beckinsale and John Cusackwere in it.
So anyway, and then I just waslike, I can't help myself.
I just enjoy this kind of movie.
(06:51):
So that's where this one camefrom, partially to Torture Mattress.
But that was a very small partof it.
This time more is just becauseI was like, I really want to watch
this movie.
And it's one of my favoriteJohn Cusack movies, no matter how
bad it might be.
Had you seen this before?
I had not.
And I think it's a really,really good movie for John Cusack.
Yes.
So this.
(07:11):
This month, what we've beenwith, all the.
John Cusack has made meappreciate him a little bit more
or, you know, focus on him.
And where he really shines, inmy opinion, is when he's explaining
nonsense or he's talkingnonsense and he's just kind of rambling.
Like, we saw this again whenwe did, like, Runaway Jury.
Yeah.
And the few other movies thatwe've had with him in it.
(07:35):
Like, the shit.
When he's just spouting out,talking about the stars at the beginning
outside the ice rink.
Yeah.
That's one of the best scenesin this movie.
And he shines in it becausehe's just.
It's.
It's like a real Conversation almost.
But it's his delivery, the wayhe speaks just when he's talking
nonsense is where he really shines.
(07:57):
And this movie, because of itssource material, serendipity, fate,
all this, you know, littlechances, little that could, you know,
butterfly effect, whatever youwant to say, like, that is where
he shines because he gets to.
He doesn't have to deliverlike a line and hit the mark and
do all that stuff.
It's very kind of loosey,goosey, flowy and naturally fits
(08:21):
to his style where, you know,you just ramble for like 45 minutes
and you, you got your content.
And so this, this movieespecially, I think, shines with
John Cusack.
And it's something I wouldhave overlooked had I not been focused
on John Cusack for the wholemonth and watching different movies
with them in it back to backto back, and kind of noticing this
(08:42):
pattern where otherwise Iwould have been a Matson and been
like, yeah, this movie sucks.
But it does, it does so wellin the little things.
And then you have, you know,your overarching story is a bit ridiculous.
Mm, it is a lot ridiculous.
But it doesn't feel out ofplace because you have these little
(09:06):
kind of moments or storiesthat are going in and everything
else seems to fit and meld andlook okay as a whole.
Now having this, you know,story that just stupidly falls into
place and perfect little plotpieces doesn't bother me as much
because it's like, okay, yeah,I could see this coming.
I knew what I was getting into.
(09:27):
Like, obviously I know wherethe ending is and now it's just the
steps to get there.
Yeah, but yeah, I enjoyed it.
Plus, I like, save the word serendipity.
I know, right?
I know.
Well, it's interestingbecause, like, like I said, I watched
this movie.
I was 20 years ago and atleast 20 years ago.
(09:48):
And then we went to New York.
God, what was it, 10, 15 years ago?
No, it wasn't even that long.
10 years ago, probably, maybe less.
I don't know.
It's probably, I think 2014.
So, yeah, a little over 10years ago we went to New York with
my in laws and Casey and wewere living Ohio.
And so we just drove downthere and it spent a couple days
(10:10):
and we went to Serendipity 3because that's a real place.
So like where they weresitting on that, like on the left
side of the screen, that tablethat was in the middle right behind
them, up against the wall, wesat in that table 10 years ago and
I had like, listen I'm not achocolate guy.
I like coffee on occasion.
(10:32):
But I was like, I have to haveone of these goddamn coffee milkshake
things that they have in this movie.
Because this is one of thesemovies that I watch.
I'll watch anytime.
Like, if Case is like, let'swatch Serendipity, I'm like, right,
let's go.
And then I'm like, I'm inSerendipity 3.
Like, I have to sit.
I have to eat one.
(10:52):
And it was delicious.
I mean, it was really good.
It's big.
It doesn't.
The.
The what you see in the moviedoesn't do it any justice, but it's
huge.
So it was like.
But so that's cool, too.
Like, every time I watch this,I'm like, hey, I want to go back.
Because the food was reallygood, too.
Like, outrageously good.
But I always think it's funny.
Yeah.
I was like, damn, if.
If they sucked.
(11:13):
Yeah, that would be horrible.
And it's tiny.
It's the little place.
Like, you kind of get that feel.
But, like, you go in, andthere's, like, a little store on
the first floor with a littlebit of restaurant table room.
But then you go up the stairs,and that's where most of the sitting
room is.
But it's a little place.
Like, it's not big, but damn,was it good food.
And the.
Yeah, that milkshake thing wasoutrageously good.
(11:36):
I mean, you'll get.
You'll.
You're drinking a cup ofdiabetes, but God damn, it was good.
Yeah.
So I always like that, too.
But I just think, to your point.
Yes, John Cusack shines in this.
Like, and sometimes, even whenhe's running his mouth, he does a
great job.
But also, sometimes when he'squiet, like when he.
When she gives him the book at the.
(11:58):
It is as the wedding gift.
And he.
Like, he's just staring atthat, and he opens it, and then he
gets in the taxi with.
With Piven.
And he doesn't say a word.
He just shows him the book.
And then he reaches into hispocket for the cell phone.
Like, the last name is Thomas.
Yeah.
That's all.
(12:19):
Yeah, it's just.
It's perfect.
And he does so good.
To your point, at the ramblingand the explaining the psychosis
that he's going through in this.
And then all of a sudden, he'slike, this is not real.
And it, like, the fact thathe's actually got her name, he's
got a phone number, he has away to find her Just completely shuts
(12:40):
his ass down.
I. Yeah, I just.
I really enjoy Cusack in this film.
And then on the flip side,like, I.
Here's the tough part for mewith this movie is I love Cusack.
I love Piven.
I love Bridget Monahan.
I love all the people thatCusack is involved with on his side
of this story.
Then you have Kate Beckinsale,who I love.
(13:01):
Great actress.
Love her.
But then there's very fewpeople on her side of the story that
I actually like.
Like, I can't stand herboyfriend, which you.
You're supposed to.
Right.
Like, they want you to hate him.
Because then there's lessstory works.
Yeah, yeah.
There's less guilt when sheditches his ass and treats him like.
And so, like that piece is.
(13:22):
But.
But then Molly Shannon.
I don't like Molly Shannon asan actress.
And so while her character'sreally not that bad if I'm being
objective about it, but, like,I don't.
I just can't.
I'm like, I hate Molly Shin.
All I ever see is that stupidass movie with her hands in her armpits
and she sniff a superstar or whatever.
(13:42):
I hate that.
I can't stand her anyway.
So it's.
It's kind of this dichotomyfor me that every time Kate Beckinsale's
on the screen, I'm just like,okay, just focus on Kate Beckinsale
and Sarah and that and leteverything else go, because I can't
stand that ship.
But whenever Cusack's on thescreen, it doesn't matter who's with
him.
Like, absolute poetry inmotion, watching them interact.
(14:04):
So I'm with you.
I think this really.
This movie really allowedCusack to shine and just be Cusack
and weird and fucking neurotic.
And it works in the.
The whole circular piece ofthis story, no matter how ridiculous
it might be in truth.
But I didn't like KateBeckinsale's boyfriend either.
(14:26):
But, dude, that first song,that's a.
Banger dude in the video.
Get the.
So it's.
You're, like top of the chart,sitting on the couch, going, I could
get behind this.
And then he starts talking.
(14:46):
Yeah.
Just.
Oh, who ruins it?
Yeah, just stick to playingyour clarinet or wherever it was.
Yeah.
I was cracking up at theinstrument choice because it's like
the most San Francisco indiescar type of mix of instruments in
this stupid, like, not even atrench coat, but I don't even want
(15:10):
to call it what he's wearing.
Just.
Yeah.
Overcoat all the time.
And So I hate him.
But he did a really good jobplaying, like, the San Francisco
musician.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, it's perfect.
Perfectly played.
And then the fact that, youknow, I gotta be like, okay, that's
some good.
That's a good hit right there.
I was enjoying the music partof it.
(15:30):
But then there was weird,like, especially at the end where
he shows up in the hotel.
Right.
And it was kind of like a weird.
Like, what?
You don't need him there forthis part because the last really
thing that he does is, youknow, get on the phone, talk about
his tour getting canceled atcertain places on.
In the carriage.
(15:51):
And so I was like, what?
And so there's parts of itwhere it didn't really make sense,
but other than that was pretty good.
Yeah.
And I understand what theywere trying to do.
They're trying to rope youback into, like, the last seven years
or whatever it is.
They've had their own separate lives.
And that temptation to go backto your life when you're on this
(16:14):
hunt for what made you happyseven years ago on some random ass
night in the 80s, like, I getit, but I'm with you.
Like, you could have left himcompletely out of it.
Once she leaves and had aphone call or two that she's like,
oh, no, I'm just.
You know, and it would havebeen fine.
Like, he doesn't add any valueto him being there.
And there was enough, like,with the whole.
(16:36):
I actually like the overlapthat her friend Molly Shannon's character
is college friends with Q sex fiance.
Like, that to me, tied them together.
And then.
So having him there was justfiller to me or like some extra step.
So I'm with you 100% agree.
So just unnecessary.
(16:56):
It did.
Also having Molly Shannon and whatever.
Whatever faces have thatconnection also added a little bit
to that.
Like, oh, they're gonna.
It's gonna happen.
Like, they're gonna see each other.
Right?
There's gonna.
There's the crossover.
There's a crossover, and thenit doesn't happen that way.
And as frustrating as it wasto watch, I also was, like, happy
(17:17):
that they did that and theyset you up for like, oh, here's the
connection.
She's gonna go to therehearsal dinner or she gets invited
to the wedding.
She's gon there and it's gonna.
They're gonna see each other.
It's gonna have this bigmagical moment.
And they don't do that.
Yeah.
Yep.
And so that I was.
I was pleasantly surprisedwith that because then they leave
(17:39):
the door Open a little bit.
And you get the idea that, youknow, John Cusack and Jeremy Piven,
they fly out and then it'slike, oh, you know, he thinks that
he sees her doing some dude inthe house.
So, you know, he's.
He's resigned to his fate typeof a thing.
He's gonna go back and, youknow, she's gonna miss the wedding.
She's gonna miss her chance.
(17:59):
And she does miss the wedding,but you figure out that it ends up
getting canceled anyway.
And so the whole reveal, Ithought, was pretty well thought
out.
And one of the best parts ofan otherwise, you know, very plot.
I don't know, very easy, stupid.
(18:22):
There's a lot of MacGuffins inthis song.
It's plot armor.
Plot armor.
I don't know the word.
There's no worry about dying.
But the.
Like, there's plot armor forthem ending up together for sure.
Like, yeah, yeah.
Like, there's no way you couldhave, like, this movie.
Ed and Shitty, where they,like, oh, we never see each other
(18:42):
again, but I'm with you.
Like, I love that they drag itout to the very end.
Like, they don't have this.
And you have all those near misses.
Like, I laugh whenever she.
They're getting in the taxiand then they get out of the taxi
to go.
I'm like, okay, that was close.
But then, like, yes, you haveall these moments where it's really
close to them running intoeach other, but it just drags it
out.
Drags it out.
(19:03):
And just love that they don'tsee each other until the very end.
And then they gotta add thatlittle extra scene with the store
with UG Levy back to the sceneof the crowd.
No outside drink.
Like, he's so funny in this movie.
Like that side of the counter.
Yeah.
Do not cross the counter.
Yeah.
But I love that he plays hisass to get him to buy the whole spring
(19:25):
collection.
And then he's like, ah, wedon't actually.
Really.
I already looked and we can'tget it.
So he.
He stole this movie.
Get you down to records.
Yeah.
So good.
Another part that I.
Absolutely.
Well, so there's two.
And I.
Like I said, I think justlike, it's John.
Really good.
John Cusack.
(19:46):
It's really good.
Jeremy Piven.
Because Jeremy Piven's hit and miss.
And ironically, he's typicallybeen better on tv.
Like, he was on one of thoseHBO shows and he was great in that.
But in movies, he's usuallythe sidekick and it usually doesn't.
But in this One, he's theperfect sidekick.
And I love, like, the, theprogression we see with him where
(20:07):
everybody thinks they havethat perfect marriage and then you
find out that they're on the rocks.
And then he gets inspired bythis ridiculousness of his best friend
doing all this and wants to bethat silly in love.
But I.
What really sticks out to meis two things.
When he has that moment on theplane, like, where he's telling him,
like, dude, you're my hero,like, this is the greatest thing
(20:30):
ever.
And then to like, thefinishing touch to that is when they
think that the whole thing'sup and.
And he gives him his obituary.
Like, I love, like, that's myfavorite part of this whole movie
is the.
Is when Piven's voice overingthat letter that he.
His obituary that he wrote him.
And like, the goofy, like, hehas a.
(20:51):
He's the editor in chief of like.
But I love that, like the wordplay and like the whole.
That I love that to me is theperfect, like, peak of this movie
where you're like, okay, nowwe know the impact that this whole
situation has had on these twoguys and then on her and then their
(21:13):
friends.
Right.
Like, and so now we're readyfor it to come to the conclusion.
But I don't think without thatmoment of hearing that where it's
like, even if you don't end upwith her, which they think is gonna
happen.
Right.
You've inspired me and you've.
You've found, like, yourselfagain, you know, you're not going
to be married.
You made that choice becauseit wasn't the right thing.
(21:33):
I love that moment.
To me, it's.
It makes it more grounded inthe silliness and kind of ridiculousness
of the movie that you're like,there were some life lessons learned
here and here's what they werein this really clever way to deliver
it that only Jeremy Piv as a.
An obituary writer could do.
Like, I just love it.
(21:54):
It's my favorite part of thiswhole movie.
I was cracking up at that parttoo, because this is like the longest
one page obituary dude readingfor like six hours as he's walking.
No.
Just getting darker and darker.
And I know it's.
It's the.
To get him to where he needsto be right for the next scene and
(22:14):
get the lighting all right.
But I was just cl.
Cracking up because it's onesheet of paper and like, I could
buy it if you just showed thatthere's multiple sheets there.
Yeah.
And so, you know, that makes sense.
It's got one little eight anda half by 11.
Yeah.
Reading like a word a half mile.
(22:39):
It's amazing.
And so I was giggling that part.
But it does also fit the moviein a stupid kind of roundabout way.
Yep.
To have this, you know, Imean, the fact, first of all, they
have this obituary in themovie was hilarious.
Oh, yeah.
But it just fits the wholetheme and the whole underlying kind
of emotion to get to where youneed to be for the next scene.
(23:03):
And you're following JohnCusack as he's going through this,
you know, journey throughwhatever it is, reading the obituary.
And so it's.
It was a clever use of voiceover.
Yeah.
To, you know, translate across.
But I was just cackling.
Oh, yeah.
I was like, there's no way.
No.
And there's so many.
That's another funny partabout this movie that I catch now
(23:23):
that I've seen it a milliontimes, is there's so many filming
goofs like, in this.
Like, there's one where theycome out of the hotel and then it
cuts back to them, like,getting in the taxi and the same
couple walks out of the hotel.
Both times.
Like, I'm like, wait, what?
And then there's another onewhen they.
When they have the near missand the taxis, when Sarah and what's
(23:44):
her face get in the taxi andit drives away.
Like, you see the.
The two idiots get out and gointo the hotel and the taxi's pulling
away supposedly with.
And there's nobody in the back.
I'm like, wait, what?
So there's a lot of, like,really, like, you could tell they
were like the disappearing taxi.
Hurry up and get that done.
Because we don't want to doany more takes it and it.
(24:05):
So, yeah, there's a lot oflittle goofs.
But, yeah, I just.
I.
It's so funny.
And I notice that now,obviously, in the first year, so
paying attention to the story.
But, yeah, funny.
Yeah.
It's just.
It's one of those movies that, like.
I'm almost embarrassed to saythat I love, but I do.
I love it.
It's so funny.
It's good.
Like, it's.
Well, it's not good, but it's good.
(24:26):
It's clever.
Yeah, it's clever.
It's well thought out.
I mean, you kind of mentioneda little bit, but Jeremy Piven does
do a really good job.
And like, my favorite bit thathe does is when they fly to San Francisco.
Right.
He's the one to go check the house.
And then there's that littlebipolar Is like, like, no, let's
go.
Like we're gonna see that.
I don't want you to get hurt.
(24:47):
I don't want you.
Yeah.
He's like.
And then it devolves like thiswrestling match just out in the lawn.
I mean, it's just so wellthought out and it feels natural.
Right.
Like if you have a reallyclose buddy, like, that's exactly
how quickly it would devolveinto just straight up wrestling.
Yeah.
(25:07):
To win.
Get your ass back in the carbefore you see it.
And then they have that, thatlittle moment afterwards where they're
just kind of like chilling outin the grass.
That also makes me laughbecause, you know, they talk about
urgency.
Right.
And if you're taking a nightflight from Phoenix to San Francisco
or not Phoenix from New York,New York, San Francisco, and you
got to get back like that.
(25:30):
First of all, just so youknow, there's no chance that they
can.
Because flight times likethis, I don't, I can't route them
off my memory.
But I don't think.
I bet you if you were to goand do the math, I don't think you
can make it from New York toSan Francisco, spend a freaking hour
or whatever tracking somebodydown, get back on a plane and get
(25:51):
back by noon.
I don't think it's possible,not at the time changes.
And yeah, when they go, Ithink maybe you could pull a red
eye and do it.
But if, if they, if you leaveNew York while it's still light,
I think you can, because thetime change, you gain three hours
going to San Francisco and youcatch a red eye back.
Yeah, but.
(26:11):
Yeah, them leaving it like thesun's down.
Right.
So you figure it's got to belike at least 6 o'.
Clock.
I don't know.
Yeah, but you know, it's.
It's clearly the winter monthsand you're not getting back because
it's a four hour flight minimum.
Four hours, probably five.
Yeah.
And so you're, you're landingin local time, like 8pm yeah.
(26:32):
And you got a red eye that'sprobably leaving at 10, so.
Oh, we lost Alec.
Oh, and he's back.
You froze.
At best, you got two hours.
Yeah.
And that.
And you need two hours just toget back through San Francisco Airport.
Yeah, not a chance.
(26:56):
Not a chance.
But I love it.
Yeah.
So I, I did think that as well.
When they're hopping theplane, I was like, he's gonna miss
it.
Yeah.
So good.
So good.
All right, should we rate it?
Let's do it.
Okay, man, this is tough forme because I want to give it really
high, but I have to try to besomewhat realistic.
(27:16):
I'm gonna give it a three anda half.
Look, there's a lot of thingswrong with this movie when you watch
it.
The, the.
The amount of suspension ofdisbelief that you have to.
Have to.
To deal with.
All of the coincidences thathappen to just these two people throughout,
you know, the whole situationat night, the first night they meet
(27:38):
in the, in the late 80s andthen seven years later when they
find each other again.
Like all of the things thathave to connect, it's just not feasible,
you know, in reality.
But letting that go and thenwatching Jeremy Piven and John Cusack
and then even to a degree, asmuch as I don't like Molly Shannon.
Like, listen, the golf part Ihate, but there is something pretty
(28:01):
funny about her getting hit inthe head with the golf ball and then
immediately getting smacked inthe head with a golf club.
Like, first of all, she'd be concussed.
You know what I mean?
Hardcore concussed.
But it's still funny anyway.
But like, yeah, I mean,there's a lot of things wrong in
this movie.
But if you can get past likethe, the silliness and the weird.
(28:23):
There's a lot of really funperformances and it.
And I, I think I like to.
I've said it before aboutmovies, but this is a very charming
movie.
Like, there's a lot of charmand a lot of heart and a lot of,
like it, it.
A lot of personality in this movie.
And it's fun and it'sinteresting and it's cute and it's,
It's a great like, date movie.
And sit down, just sit downand enjoy yourself with the comedy,
(28:45):
the lovey dovey.
It's fun.
And then enjoy the sights ofNew York because it's fun to have
a movie that's like indowntown New York.
Like that too, because it'sjust such a cool city.
But anyway, so three and ahalf for me.
There are a lot of things thatcould be better.
One thing I do love is it'svery short hour and a half movie.
I like an hour and a halfmovies, especially ones that get
(29:06):
you from start to finish andkeep your attention like this.
Yeah.
And I just can't watch thismovie and have a shitty day after.
Like, I watch it and I'm in agood mood because it's just cute
and fun and interesting.
So yeah, three and a half for me.
And I'll definitely watch itanytime Anybody wants to watch this
one?
Your turn.
Right.
I'm also going to be a threeand a half.
(29:26):
So it's.
I like that you use charmingbecause I think that fits it really
well.
It's.
It's a really good movie.
Just for product of its time.
It's a chick flick withoutbeing a chick flick.
It falls into its own tropesand everything like that, but it
doesn't, you know, it's notcookie cutter copy paste, the typical
formula for 2000s, like 90s movie.
(29:50):
And so they're doing extrathings, they're changing it up, they're
moving different pieces aroundand they're telling the whole story,
which, well, completelyunbelievable at, even on its best
day, still is a really good story.
And they do it without makingit feel super savvy.
Right.
And so at least in my opinion,and we didn't even really talk about
(30:11):
it, but my favorite scene inthis is the stupid elevator one.
Isn't it great?
I died.
It was.
It was phenomenal.
You got a little demon child.
Yeah.
Dress like the devil.
Why is he just like the devilat Christmas?
Like, it's, it's perfect.
Because he's a devil.
Yeah.
It's amazing.
(30:31):
And so.
And then it's completelycontradicted by, you know, his dad
who's like, hey, he's just a kid.
Right.
But yeah, is the one whodressed his kid up like the literal
devil.
Yeah.
And so it's little momentslike that where it's creative like
you were talking about.
It's charming, but it's, it'snot super sappy or, you know, makes
you just like, oh, great, herewe go.
(30:53):
I'm in for the slug fest.
You.
You understand the whole ofit, but you don't have to go through
all the major tropes of this,you know, sappy love movie.
So three and a half for me.
I will be watching it again.
I don't know when or however,but it's.
It's a good one that I can addto my list and know that if I sit
down and watch it, like yousaid, it's just going to be an enjoyable
time.
I'm not going to be mad that Isat down and watched it.
(31:14):
So, yeah, three and a half for me.
Love it when I love to.
That same elevator scene whereby the time we get to the end, like,
everybody's on the elevatorgetting off, like, checking around.
It's so good.
It's so good.
I always forget about thatscene until it happens and I'm like,
oh, that's funny.
The kid comes in and just.
(31:35):
Don'T do that.
Yeah.
Like, ah.
And you're like, no, but Ilove that too.
Like, I guess my last thoughtafter we've rated it is like, you
root for these guys.
You know what I mean?
Like you want them.
They have such a fun sceneearly on.
Like the opening to this is sogood and connects you so much to
these two and they do such agood job with their chemistry together
that like it's, it'sbelievable to me and I want them
(31:58):
to win, you know, so all thesenear misses, you're like, ah, so
love that.
Anyway, there it is, weekthree in the books.
Alec, Toby, where they canfind us.
Happy to.
So yes, like JJ said, this hasbeen week three of John Cusack Month.
Serendipity three and a halfout of five from us.
(32:19):
Tell us what you guys think inthe comments below.
Do you think that we were onpoint or do you think that we completely
missed the ball?
Best place to find US is onYouTube if you want to see our smiling
faces.
Outside of that, join us onPatreon at what's our Birdie reviews.
We have a mountain of contentthere behind a little bit of a paywall,
but there is upwards of Ithink now 550, maybe even 600 extra
(32:43):
little bloopers, outtakes,full length episodes even of the
what's Our Verdict podcast.
So join us there.
You can get all that contenteven if you don't want to, you know,
spend a couple bucks, getbehind the paywall.
Still.
Join us on what's Our VerdictReviews on Patreon because we do
have voting.
So the way that we kind ofbuilt this podcast or the way the
podcast has evolved even isthat we now do monthly categories.
(33:07):
And so we'll pick a monthly category.
You guys can vote on Patreonfor completely free.
Once the votes been done,we'll then pick a couple movies that
fit into that category.
Hence John Cusack Month with abunch of John Cusack movies.
You guys will get to voteagain to see what we watch and discuss.
So if you want to get involvedin content, that's the best place
to do it.
And then behind a little bitof paywall we do have some tier so
(33:28):
you can get the free contentor you can even go all the way up
and you can force us to watchsome stupid ass shit.
We've had quite a few stupidass movies.
Special thanks to our currentpatrons, Rich and cb.
Love you guys.
And with that I will kick itback to our fearless leader.
Let's see.
The Maharaja of Mash.
The Wazir of Wap A. J.J. yeah.
(33:51):
Thanks, Alec.
Yeah.
Go join us.
It's a lot of fun.
We have a good time over thereon Patreon, but we have a good time
here, too, so, as always, weappreciate you tuning in.
We'll catch you on the next one.
I didn't like KateBeckinsale's boyfriend either.
But dude, that first song,that's a banger, dude.
In the video, get the.
It's like top of the sittingon the couch going, I could get behind
this.
(00:26):
Welcome to the what's Alreadypodcast where we fashion ourselves
cinematic judge and Jerry.
My name is JJ Carter.
I'm here with my co host, Alec Burgess.
Let's get it.
We appreciate you tuning in.
Go ahead, hit that.
Follow, subscribe like bellnotification buttons.
Hit them all.
Helps us grow the podcast.
You can also help help us growthe podcast by telling a friend,
family member about us co workers.
(00:46):
We'll take those too.
We'll take weird people thatbelieve in fate way too much.
We'll take those guys, awkwarddudes that don't necessarily believe
in fate.
Until.
Anyway, I'm stretching here,but like, yeah, you know, tell some
people about us and we'llappreciate it.
(01:06):
You can also support us bygoing and checking out Patreon.
A lot of what we do there is free.
You can vote on movie topics,you can give us recommendations for
topics.
All that's free.
There is some.
Some levels where you can giveus a little cash, help support the
podcast.
It's not cheap to do thesethings, but it will also allow you
to see a bunch of extra stuffand even get involved.
(01:27):
Depending on how high up thepaywall you go, you can force us
to watch whatever movie you want.
And there have been some doozies.
Yeah.
And if you haven't noticed,we're back down to two.
We lost Matson.
Apparently.
I'm air quoting for good.
We.
We.
We have an over under on howlong before he comes back, so we'll
(01:49):
see who wins that particular bet.
But for now, it's just me andAlec and that's okay.
We like doing this stuff.
We've upgraded our visuals,things like that.
So if you're listening on thepodcast, probably won't notice much
other than the air quote.
Man of the people's gone.
(02:09):
If you're watching us though,you can see there's some.
There's some differences.
Yeah.
What's nice is our averagescore that we give movies just like
shot up 4 percentage points.
Gonna be in sync, not at wildone off.
Like zeros for no reason or.
So it'll be.
(02:30):
It'll be much tighter groupingwhen we're starting to rate.
And you guys will see that.
Yeah.
And comedy will actually berecognized as actually funny.
Yes.
Yeah.
True, true funny instead ofrandomly funny.
Anyway, we've.
We've lingered we're on weekthree of John Cusack month here in
(02:52):
October.
To round out week three or tokick off week three, whatever the
hell terminology you want to use.
We're kicking into serendipity.
It was released October 5th.
Well, that was close.
2001.
Wow.
God, what is that, 24 years ago?
Jesus.
God, that makes me feel old.
It was written by Mark Klein.
(03:14):
It was directed by PeterChelsum, stars John Cusack, Kate
Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven,Bridget Moynihan, Eugene Levy, Lily
Levine, David Sparrow, AnnTalman, and wow, why is what's her
face not on here?
The friend.
What?
I should have looked at that.
What was her.
What's the.
(03:34):
I can't stand her.
She said.
Yeah.
We'Ve done something with her recently.
Yeah, we have.
Oh, God, what's her name?
I can't believe.
I mean, John Corbett's in this too.
There's another name that getsoverlooked for some reason.
Molly Shannon.
Yeah, that was weird.
Like, sometimes the.
Listen, I love IMDb, butsometimes they have weird, like,
(03:59):
random man on the street isabove Molly Shannon in this movie's
casting.
But sure, whatever.
Listen, the movie's about acouple who search for each other
years.
Search for each other yearsafter the night they first met, fell
in love, and separated,convinced that one day they'd end
up together.
I.
That's might be one of theworst synopsises that we've ever
(04:21):
had.
Like, while some of it's kindof accurate, it's pretty inaccurate.
But anyway, Jesus, we're offto a great start.
Great start.
This is my movie.
Yes.
With.
This is the next two or bothmy movies.
Yeah, I know.
I.
Listen, I picked this for acouple reasons.
(04:42):
One's to mess with Matsonbecause I knew he would absolutely
abhor this movie, while at thesame time his wife probably would
love it.
And so it was kind of meant tobe a torture device.
But with that said, this is amovie that, when I was a young man
in my early 20s and, like,still optimistic about love, if you
(05:05):
will.
Like, I thought this was kindof cool movie.
And a couple of reasons.
I mean, I watched it because Ilike John Cusack, but I love Kate
Beckinsale.
Like, she was always like,I've always loved Kate Beckinsale.
I think she's a great actress.
She's gorgeous, like, all the things.
So the two of them together,especially at the time, I was like,
(05:25):
hell, yeah, I'm gonna watchthis movie.
And then for some reason, mysick, twisted ass, like, really enjoyed
it.
So it was like, one of thosethings that I. I've watched this
a million times, and I know.
Let me preface and say that Iknow really how bad this movie can
be, like, from a certainperspective, but I just enjoy myself
watching it.
(05:45):
Like, that's like.
I think it's funny.
I think there's reallyhumorous parts.
Like, the.
The banter between Cusack andPiven is just on another level.
And then you throw in what'shis face, the Eugene Levy, and it's
like, comedy gold.
And so there's just moments inthis movie that are damn near perfection,
(06:08):
that outweigh, to me at least, the.
Okay, this is not.
We can move on from what we're doing.
And there's some.
That's just so ridiculous.
Like, a lot of the golf club.
Like, the golf stuff is so stupid.
But, like.
So, yeah.
I mean, I'm not an.
I'm not an unrealistic humanbeing to understand that this movie's
(06:30):
not great in a lot of ways.
But it just got me when I.
When I was in my.
Like I said, I think I was,like, 22, 23 when I first saw this,
because 2001, I was living inArizona and not watching movies,
but when I got home in 2022, Iwould have watched this because Kate
Beckinsale and John Cusackwere in it.
So anyway, and then I just waslike, I can't help myself.
I just enjoy this kind of movie.
(06:51):
So that's where this one camefrom, partially to Torture Mattress.
But that was a very small partof it.
This time more is just becauseI was like, I really want to watch
this movie.
And it's one of my favoriteJohn Cusack movies, no matter how
bad it might be.
Had you seen this before?
I had not.
And I think it's a really,really good movie for John Cusack.
Yes.
So this.
(07:11):
This month, what we've beenwith, all the.
John Cusack has made meappreciate him a little bit more
or, you know, focus on him.
And where he really shines, inmy opinion, is when he's explaining
nonsense or he's talkingnonsense and he's just kind of rambling.
Like, we saw this again whenwe did, like, Runaway Jury.
Yeah.
And the few other movies thatwe've had with him in it.
(07:35):
Like, the shit.
When he's just spouting out,talking about the stars at the beginning
outside the ice rink.
Yeah.
That's one of the best scenesin this movie.
And he shines in it becausehe's just.
It's.
It's like a real Conversation almost.
But it's his delivery, the wayhe speaks just when he's talking
nonsense is where he really shines.
(07:57):
And this movie, because of itssource material, serendipity, fate,
all this, you know, littlechances, little that could, you know,
butterfly effect, whatever youwant to say, like, that is where
he shines because he gets to.
He doesn't have to deliverlike a line and hit the mark and
do all that stuff.
It's very kind of loosey,goosey, flowy and naturally fits
(08:21):
to his style where, you know,you just ramble for like 45 minutes
and you, you got your content.
And so this, this movieespecially, I think, shines with
John Cusack.
And it's something I wouldhave overlooked had I not been focused
on John Cusack for the wholemonth and watching different movies
with them in it back to backto back, and kind of noticing this
(08:42):
pattern where otherwise Iwould have been a Matson and been
like, yeah, this movie sucks.
But it does, it does so wellin the little things.
And then you have, you know,your overarching story is a bit ridiculous.
Mm, it is a lot ridiculous.
But it doesn't feel out ofplace because you have these little
(09:06):
kind of moments or storiesthat are going in and everything
else seems to fit and meld andlook okay as a whole.
Now having this, you know,story that just stupidly falls into
place and perfect little plotpieces doesn't bother me as much
because it's like, okay, yeah,I could see this coming.
I knew what I was getting into.
(09:27):
Like, obviously I know wherethe ending is and now it's just the
steps to get there.
Yeah, but yeah, I enjoyed it.
Plus, I like, save the word serendipity.
I know, right?
I know.
Well, it's interestingbecause, like, like I said, I watched
this movie.
I was 20 years ago and atleast 20 years ago.
(09:48):
And then we went to New York.
God, what was it, 10, 15 years ago?
No, it wasn't even that long.
10 years ago, probably, maybe less.
I don't know.
It's probably, I think 2014.
So, yeah, a little over 10years ago we went to New York with
my in laws and Casey and wewere living Ohio.
And so we just drove downthere and it spent a couple days
(10:10):
and we went to Serendipity 3because that's a real place.
So like where they weresitting on that, like on the left
side of the screen, that tablethat was in the middle right behind
them, up against the wall, wesat in that table 10 years ago and
I had like, listen I'm not achocolate guy.
I like coffee on occasion.
(10:32):
But I was like, I have to haveone of these goddamn coffee milkshake
things that they have in this movie.
Because this is one of thesemovies that I watch.
I'll watch anytime.
Like, if Case is like, let'swatch Serendipity, I'm like, right,
let's go.
And then I'm like, I'm inSerendipity 3.
Like, I have to sit.
I have to eat one.
(10:52):
And it was delicious.
I mean, it was really good.
It's big.
It doesn't.
The.
The what you see in the moviedoesn't do it any justice, but it's
huge.
So it was like.
But so that's cool, too.
Like, every time I watch this,I'm like, hey, I want to go back.
Because the food was reallygood, too.
Like, outrageously good.
But I always think it's funny.
Yeah.
I was like, damn, if.
If they sucked.
(11:13):
Yeah, that would be horrible.
And it's tiny.
It's the little place.
Like, you kind of get that feel.
But, like, you go in, andthere's, like, a little store on
the first floor with a littlebit of restaurant table room.
But then you go up the stairs,and that's where most of the sitting
room is.
But it's a little place.
Like, it's not big, but damn,was it good food.
And the.
Yeah, that milkshake thing wasoutrageously good.
(11:36):
I mean, you'll get.
You'll.
You're drinking a cup ofdiabetes, but God damn, it was good.
Yeah.
So I always like that, too.
But I just think, to your point.
Yes, John Cusack shines in this.
Like, and sometimes, even whenhe's running his mouth, he does a
great job.
But also, sometimes when he'squiet, like when he.
When she gives him the book at the.
(11:58):
It is as the wedding gift.
And he.
Like, he's just staring atthat, and he opens it, and then he
gets in the taxi with.
With Piven.
And he doesn't say a word.
He just shows him the book.
And then he reaches into hispocket for the cell phone.
Like, the last name is Thomas.
Yeah.
That's all.
(12:19):
Yeah, it's just.
It's perfect.
And he does so good.
To your point, at the ramblingand the explaining the psychosis
that he's going through in this.
And then all of a sudden, he'slike, this is not real.
And it, like, the fact thathe's actually got her name, he's
got a phone number, he has away to find her Just completely shuts
(12:40):
his ass down.
I. Yeah, I just.
I really enjoy Cusack in this film.
And then on the flip side,like, I.
Here's the tough part for mewith this movie is I love Cusack.
I love Piven.
I love Bridget Monahan.
I love all the people thatCusack is involved with on his side
of this story.
Then you have Kate Beckinsale,who I love.
(13:01):
Great actress.
Love her.
But then there's very fewpeople on her side of the story that
I actually like.
Like, I can't stand herboyfriend, which you.
You're supposed to.
Right.
Like, they want you to hate him.
Because then there's lessstory works.
Yeah, yeah.
There's less guilt when sheditches his ass and treats him like.
And so, like that piece is.
(13:22):
But.
But then Molly Shannon.
I don't like Molly Shannon asan actress.
And so while her character'sreally not that bad if I'm being
objective about it, but, like,I don't.
I just can't.
I'm like, I hate Molly Shin.
All I ever see is that stupidass movie with her hands in her armpits
and she sniff a superstar or whatever.
(13:42):
I hate that.
I can't stand her anyway.
So it's.
It's kind of this dichotomyfor me that every time Kate Beckinsale's
on the screen, I'm just like,okay, just focus on Kate Beckinsale
and Sarah and that and leteverything else go, because I can't
stand that ship.
But whenever Cusack's on thescreen, it doesn't matter who's with
him.
Like, absolute poetry inmotion, watching them interact.
(14:04):
So I'm with you.
I think this really.
This movie really allowedCusack to shine and just be Cusack
and weird and fucking neurotic.
And it works in the.
The whole circular piece ofthis story, no matter how ridiculous
it might be in truth.
But I didn't like KateBeckinsale's boyfriend either.
(14:26):
But, dude, that first song,that's a.
Banger dude in the video.
Get the.
So it's.
You're, like top of the chart,sitting on the couch, going, I could
get behind this.
And then he starts talking.
(14:46):
Yeah.
Just.
Oh, who ruins it?
Yeah, just stick to playingyour clarinet or wherever it was.
Yeah.
I was cracking up at theinstrument choice because it's like
the most San Francisco indiescar type of mix of instruments in
this stupid, like, not even atrench coat, but I don't even want
(15:10):
to call it what he's wearing.
Just.
Yeah.
Overcoat all the time.
And So I hate him.
But he did a really good jobplaying, like, the San Francisco
musician.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, it's perfect.
Perfectly played.
And then the fact that, youknow, I gotta be like, okay, that's
some good.
That's a good hit right there.
I was enjoying the music partof it.
(15:30):
But then there was weird,like, especially at the end where
he shows up in the hotel.
Right.
And it was kind of like a weird.
Like, what?
You don't need him there forthis part because the last really
thing that he does is, youknow, get on the phone, talk about
his tour getting canceled atcertain places on.
In the carriage.
(15:51):
And so I was like, what?
And so there's parts of itwhere it didn't really make sense,
but other than that was pretty good.
Yeah.
And I understand what theywere trying to do.
They're trying to rope youback into, like, the last seven years
or whatever it is.
They've had their own separate lives.
And that temptation to go backto your life when you're on this
(16:14):
hunt for what made you happyseven years ago on some random ass
night in the 80s, like, I getit, but I'm with you.
Like, you could have left himcompletely out of it.
Once she leaves and had aphone call or two that she's like,
oh, no, I'm just.
You know, and it would havebeen fine.
Like, he doesn't add any valueto him being there.
And there was enough, like,with the whole.
(16:36):
I actually like the overlapthat her friend Molly Shannon's character
is college friends with Q sex fiance.
Like, that to me, tied them together.
And then.
So having him there was justfiller to me or like some extra step.
So I'm with you 100% agree.
So just unnecessary.
(16:56):
It did.
Also having Molly Shannon and whatever.
Whatever faces have thatconnection also added a little bit
to that.
Like, oh, they're gonna.
It's gonna happen.
Like, they're gonna see each other.
Right?
There's gonna.
There's the crossover.
There's a crossover, and thenit doesn't happen that way.
And as frustrating as it wasto watch, I also was, like, happy
(17:17):
that they did that and theyset you up for like, oh, here's the
connection.
She's gonna go to therehearsal dinner or she gets invited
to the wedding.
She's gon there and it's gonna.
They're gonna see each other.
It's gonna have this bigmagical moment.
And they don't do that.
Yeah.
Yep.
And so that I was.
I was pleasantly surprisedwith that because then they leave
(17:39):
the door Open a little bit.
And you get the idea that, youknow, John Cusack and Jeremy Piven,
they fly out and then it'slike, oh, you know, he thinks that
he sees her doing some dude inthe house.
So, you know, he's.
He's resigned to his fate typeof a thing.
He's gonna go back and, youknow, she's gonna miss the wedding.
She's gonna miss her chance.
(17:59):
And she does miss the wedding,but you figure out that it ends up
getting canceled anyway.
And so the whole reveal, Ithought, was pretty well thought
out.
And one of the best parts ofan otherwise, you know, very plot.
I don't know, very easy, stupid.
(18:22):
There's a lot of MacGuffins inthis song.
It's plot armor.
Plot armor.
I don't know the word.
There's no worry about dying.
But the.
Like, there's plot armor forthem ending up together for sure.
Like, yeah, yeah.
Like, there's no way you couldhave, like, this movie.
Ed and Shitty, where they,like, oh, we never see each other
(18:42):
again, but I'm with you.
Like, I love that they drag itout to the very end.
Like, they don't have this.
And you have all those near misses.
Like, I laugh whenever she.
They're getting in the taxiand then they get out of the taxi
to go.
I'm like, okay, that was close.
But then, like, yes, you haveall these moments where it's really
close to them running intoeach other, but it just drags it
out.
Drags it out.
(19:03):
And just love that they don'tsee each other until the very end.
And then they gotta add thatlittle extra scene with the store
with UG Levy back to the sceneof the crowd.
No outside drink.
Like, he's so funny in this movie.
Like that side of the counter.
Yeah.
Do not cross the counter.
Yeah.
But I love that he plays hisass to get him to buy the whole spring
(19:25):
collection.
And then he's like, ah, wedon't actually.
Really.
I already looked and we can'tget it.
So he.
He stole this movie.
Get you down to records.
Yeah.
So good.
Another part that I.
Absolutely.
Well, so there's two.
And I.
Like I said, I think justlike, it's John.
Really good.
John Cusack.
(19:46):
It's really good.
Jeremy Piven.
Because Jeremy Piven's hit and miss.
And ironically, he's typicallybeen better on tv.
Like, he was on one of thoseHBO shows and he was great in that.
But in movies, he's usuallythe sidekick and it usually doesn't.
But in this One, he's theperfect sidekick.
And I love, like, the, theprogression we see with him where
(20:07):
everybody thinks they havethat perfect marriage and then you
find out that they're on the rocks.
And then he gets inspired bythis ridiculousness of his best friend
doing all this and wants to bethat silly in love.
But I.
What really sticks out to meis two things.
When he has that moment on theplane, like, where he's telling him,
like, dude, you're my hero,like, this is the greatest thing
(20:30):
ever.
And then to like, thefinishing touch to that is when they
think that the whole thing'sup and.
And he gives him his obituary.
Like, I love, like, that's myfavorite part of this whole movie
is the.
Is when Piven's voice overingthat letter that he.
His obituary that he wrote him.
And like, the goofy, like, hehas a.
(20:51):
He's the editor in chief of like.
But I love that, like the wordplay and like the whole.
That I love that to me is theperfect, like, peak of this movie
where you're like, okay, nowwe know the impact that this whole
situation has had on these twoguys and then on her and then their
(21:13):
friends.
Right.
Like, and so now we're readyfor it to come to the conclusion.
But I don't think without thatmoment of hearing that where it's
like, even if you don't end upwith her, which they think is gonna
happen.
Right.
You've inspired me and you've.
You've found, like, yourselfagain, you know, you're not going
to be married.
You made that choice becauseit wasn't the right thing.
(21:33):
I love that moment.
To me, it's.
It makes it more grounded inthe silliness and kind of ridiculousness
of the movie that you're like,there were some life lessons learned
here and here's what they werein this really clever way to deliver
it that only Jeremy Piv as a.
An obituary writer could do.
Like, I just love it.
(21:54):
It's my favorite part of thiswhole movie.
I was cracking up at that parttoo, because this is like the longest
one page obituary dude readingfor like six hours as he's walking.
No.
Just getting darker and darker.
And I know it's.
It's the.
To get him to where he needsto be right for the next scene and
(22:14):
get the lighting all right.
But I was just cl.
Cracking up because it's onesheet of paper and like, I could
buy it if you just showed thatthere's multiple sheets there.
Yeah.
And so, you know, that makes sense.
It's got one little eight anda half by 11.
Yeah.
Reading like a word a half mile.
(22:39):
It's amazing.
And so I was giggling that part.
But it does also fit the moviein a stupid kind of roundabout way.
Yep.
To have this, you know, Imean, the fact, first of all, they
have this obituary in themovie was hilarious.
Oh, yeah.
But it just fits the wholetheme and the whole underlying kind
of emotion to get to where youneed to be for the next scene.
(23:03):
And you're following JohnCusack as he's going through this,
you know, journey throughwhatever it is, reading the obituary.
And so it's.
It was a clever use of voiceover.
Yeah.
To, you know, translate across.
But I was just cackling.
Oh, yeah.
I was like, there's no way.
No.
And there's so many.
That's another funny partabout this movie that I catch now
(23:23):
that I've seen it a milliontimes, is there's so many filming
goofs like, in this.
Like, there's one where theycome out of the hotel and then it
cuts back to them, like,getting in the taxi and the same
couple walks out of the hotel.
Both times.
Like, I'm like, wait, what?
And then there's another onewhen they.
When they have the near missand the taxis, when Sarah and what's
(23:44):
her face get in the taxi andit drives away.
Like, you see the.
The two idiots get out and gointo the hotel and the taxi's pulling
away supposedly with.
And there's nobody in the back.
I'm like, wait, what?
So there's a lot of, like,really, like, you could tell they
were like the disappearing taxi.
Hurry up and get that done.
Because we don't want to doany more takes it and it.
(24:05):
So, yeah, there's a lot oflittle goofs.
But, yeah, I just.
I.
It's so funny.
And I notice that now,obviously, in the first year, so
paying attention to the story.
But, yeah, funny.
Yeah.
It's just.
It's one of those movies that, like.
I'm almost embarrassed to saythat I love, but I do.
I love it.
It's so funny.
It's good.
Like, it's.
Well, it's not good, but it's good.
(24:26):
It's clever.
Yeah, it's clever.
It's well thought out.
I mean, you kind of mentioneda little bit, but Jeremy Piven does
do a really good job.
And like, my favorite bit thathe does is when they fly to San Francisco.
Right.
He's the one to go check the house.
And then there's that littlebipolar Is like, like, no, let's
go.
Like we're gonna see that.
I don't want you to get hurt.
(24:47):
I don't want you.
Yeah.
He's like.
And then it devolves like thiswrestling match just out in the lawn.
I mean, it's just so wellthought out and it feels natural.
Right.
Like if you have a reallyclose buddy, like, that's exactly
how quickly it would devolveinto just straight up wrestling.
Yeah.
(25:07):
To win.
Get your ass back in the carbefore you see it.
And then they have that, thatlittle moment afterwards where they're
just kind of like chilling outin the grass.
That also makes me laughbecause, you know, they talk about
urgency.
Right.
And if you're taking a nightflight from Phoenix to San Francisco
or not Phoenix from New York,New York, San Francisco, and you
got to get back like that.
(25:30):
First of all, just so youknow, there's no chance that they
can.
Because flight times likethis, I don't, I can't route them
off my memory.
But I don't think.
I bet you if you were to goand do the math, I don't think you
can make it from New York toSan Francisco, spend a freaking hour
or whatever tracking somebodydown, get back on a plane and get
(25:51):
back by noon.
I don't think it's possible,not at the time changes.
And yeah, when they go, Ithink maybe you could pull a red
eye and do it.
But if, if they, if you leaveNew York while it's still light,
I think you can, because thetime change, you gain three hours
going to San Francisco and youcatch a red eye back.
Yeah, but.
(26:11):
Yeah, them leaving it like thesun's down.
Right.
So you figure it's got to belike at least 6 o'.
Clock.
I don't know.
Yeah, but you know, it's.
It's clearly the winter monthsand you're not getting back because
it's a four hour flight minimum.
Four hours, probably five.
Yeah.
And so you're, you're landingin local time, like 8pm yeah.
(26:32):
And you got a red eye that'sprobably leaving at 10, so.
Oh, we lost Alec.
Oh, and he's back.
You froze.
At best, you got two hours.
Yeah.
And that.
And you need two hours just toget back through San Francisco Airport.
Yeah, not a chance.
(26:56):
Not a chance.
But I love it.
Yeah.
So I, I did think that as well.
When they're hopping theplane, I was like, he's gonna miss
it.
Yeah.
So good.
So good.
All right, should we rate it?
Let's do it.
Okay, man, this is tough forme because I want to give it really
high, but I have to try to besomewhat realistic.
(27:16):
I'm gonna give it a three anda half.
Look, there's a lot of thingswrong with this movie when you watch
it.
The, the.
The amount of suspension ofdisbelief that you have to.
Have to.
To deal with.
All of the coincidences thathappen to just these two people throughout,
you know, the whole situationat night, the first night they meet
(27:38):
in the, in the late 80s andthen seven years later when they
find each other again.
Like all of the things thathave to connect, it's just not feasible,
you know, in reality.
But letting that go and thenwatching Jeremy Piven and John Cusack
and then even to a degree, asmuch as I don't like Molly Shannon.
Like, listen, the golf part Ihate, but there is something pretty
(28:01):
funny about her getting hit inthe head with the golf ball and then
immediately getting smacked inthe head with a golf club.
Like, first of all, she'd be concussed.
You know what I mean?
Hardcore concussed.
But it's still funny anyway.
But like, yeah, I mean,there's a lot of things wrong in
this movie.
But if you can get past likethe, the silliness and the weird.
(28:23):
There's a lot of really funperformances and it.
And I, I think I like to.
I've said it before aboutmovies, but this is a very charming
movie.
Like, there's a lot of charmand a lot of heart and a lot of,
like it, it.
A lot of personality in this movie.
And it's fun and it'sinteresting and it's cute and it's,
It's a great like, date movie.
And sit down, just sit downand enjoy yourself with the comedy,
(28:45):
the lovey dovey.
It's fun.
And then enjoy the sights ofNew York because it's fun to have
a movie that's like indowntown New York.
Like that too, because it'sjust such a cool city.
But anyway, so three and ahalf for me.
There are a lot of things thatcould be better.
One thing I do love is it'svery short hour and a half movie.
I like an hour and a halfmovies, especially ones that get
(29:06):
you from start to finish andkeep your attention like this.
Yeah.
And I just can't watch thismovie and have a shitty day after.
Like, I watch it and I'm in agood mood because it's just cute
and fun and interesting.
So yeah, three and a half for me.
And I'll definitely watch itanytime Anybody wants to watch this
one?
Your turn.
Right.
I'm also going to be a threeand a half.
(29:26):
So it's.
I like that you use charmingbecause I think that fits it really
well.
It's.
It's a really good movie.
Just for product of its time.
It's a chick flick withoutbeing a chick flick.
It falls into its own tropesand everything like that, but it
doesn't, you know, it's notcookie cutter copy paste, the typical
formula for 2000s, like 90s movie.
(29:50):
And so they're doing extrathings, they're changing it up, they're
moving different pieces aroundand they're telling the whole story,
which, well, completelyunbelievable at, even on its best
day, still is a really good story.
And they do it without makingit feel super savvy.
Right.
And so at least in my opinion,and we didn't even really talk about
(30:11):
it, but my favorite scene inthis is the stupid elevator one.
Isn't it great?
I died.
It was.
It was phenomenal.
You got a little demon child.
Yeah.
Dress like the devil.
Why is he just like the devilat Christmas?
Like, it's, it's perfect.
Because he's a devil.
Yeah.
It's amazing.
(30:31):
And so.
And then it's completelycontradicted by, you know, his dad
who's like, hey, he's just a kid.
Right.
But yeah, is the one whodressed his kid up like the literal
devil.
Yeah.
And so it's little momentslike that where it's creative like
you were talking about.
It's charming, but it's, it'snot super sappy or, you know, makes
you just like, oh, great, herewe go.
(30:53):
I'm in for the slug fest.
You.
You understand the whole ofit, but you don't have to go through
all the major tropes of this,you know, sappy love movie.
So three and a half for me.
I will be watching it again.
I don't know when or however,but it's.
It's a good one that I can addto my list and know that if I sit
down and watch it, like yousaid, it's just going to be an enjoyable
time.
I'm not going to be mad that Isat down and watched it.
(31:14):
So, yeah, three and a half for me.
Love it when I love to.
That same elevator scene whereby the time we get to the end, like,
everybody's on the elevatorgetting off, like, checking around.
It's so good.
It's so good.
I always forget about thatscene until it happens and I'm like,
oh, that's funny.
The kid comes in and just.
(31:35):
Don'T do that.
Yeah.
Like, ah.
And you're like, no, but Ilove that too.
Like, I guess my last thoughtafter we've rated it is like, you
root for these guys.
You know what I mean?
Like you want them.
They have such a fun sceneearly on.
Like the opening to this is sogood and connects you so much to
these two and they do such agood job with their chemistry together
that like it's, it'sbelievable to me and I want them
(31:58):
to win, you know, so all thesenear misses, you're like, ah, so
love that.
Anyway, there it is, weekthree in the books.
Alec, Toby, where they canfind us.
Happy to.
So yes, like JJ said, this hasbeen week three of John Cusack Month.
Serendipity three and a halfout of five from us.
(32:19):
Tell us what you guys think inthe comments below.
Do you think that we were onpoint or do you think that we completely
missed the ball?
Best place to find US is onYouTube if you want to see our smiling
faces.
Outside of that, join us onPatreon at what's our Birdie reviews.
We have a mountain of contentthere behind a little bit of a paywall,
but there is upwards of Ithink now 550, maybe even 600 extra
(32:43):
little bloopers, outtakes,full length episodes even of the
what's Our Verdict podcast.
So join us there.
You can get all that contenteven if you don't want to, you know,
spend a couple bucks, getbehind the paywall.
Still.
Join us on what's Our VerdictReviews on Patreon because we do
have voting.
So the way that we kind ofbuilt this podcast or the way the
podcast has evolved even isthat we now do monthly categories.
(33:07):
And so we'll pick a monthly category.
You guys can vote on Patreonfor completely free.
Once the votes been done,we'll then pick a couple movies that
fit into that category.
Hence John Cusack Month with abunch of John Cusack movies.
You guys will get to voteagain to see what we watch and discuss.
So if you want to get involvedin content, that's the best place
to do it.
And then behind a little bitof paywall we do have some tier so
(33:28):
you can get the free contentor you can even go all the way up
and you can force us to watchsome stupid ass shit.
We've had quite a few stupidass movies.
Special thanks to our currentpatrons, Rich and cb.
Love you guys.
And with that I will kick itback to our fearless leader.
Let's see.
The Maharaja of Mash.
The Wazir of Wap A. J.J. yeah.
(33:51):
Thanks, Alec.
Yeah.
Go join us.
It's a lot of fun.
We have a good time over thereon Patreon, but we have a good time
here, too, so, as always, weappreciate you tuning in.
We'll catch you on the next one.
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