This film definitely would not have had the same majestic and charismatic feel to it if Audrey Tautou was not included as part of the cast. Her fine acting talent here earned her the role for which she is most known for, as Amelie; she can also be seen in the more recent He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not and Dirty Pretty Things. Audrey is a petite and pretty brunette who I could watch on screen for hours regardless of her role or of the film’s storyline. This cute, curly-haired, sweet and simple actress radiates with charm and exuberance. Both the subtle soundtrack, equipped with smooth swelling strings and marimbas, as well as the overall aura of the picture, do well in matching Tautou’s magical and marvelous looks and manner.
Although the idea of incidents occurring by mere luck and chance – which then result in life-changing connections and revisions – is nothing new (seen previously in Sliding Doors, The Family Man, and Serendipity), Happenstance is a step above the others. While some may think the film goes overboard with ostensibly, extraneous actions and coincidences, I think it cleverly combines its contingencies of love, luck, and fortune together with panache, making this picture almost just as fascinating and unavoidable as fate itself. (***1/2 out of ****)
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