New York City Serenade
Year: 2007
Runtime: 103 mins
Language: English
Director: Frank Whaley
Two down‑on‑their‑luck childhood friends, Ray—a drummer in a rock band—and Owen—an aspiring filmmaker—spend their days working menial jobs and drinking. When Owen’s fiancé Lynn calls off their wedding, he spirals and invites Ray to a low‑budget Kansas film festival. Ray pretends to be the son of award‑winner Wally Shawn to get a Four Seasons suite, causing chaos, while Owen tries to mend his broken relationship. By the end, Owen resolves to change his life.
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New York City Serenade (2007) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Read the complete plot breakdown of New York City Serenade (2007), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Owen is an aspiring filmmaker who has earned a nomination for a short film in which his friend Ray appears. He works in the film industry developing photos. He is engaged to Lynn. Ray has an office job this week but still drums in a rock band, and he has a young daughter, Francie.
Owen and Lynn go out to a film, where they meet Lynn’s French literature professor Noam, and they catch the tail end of one of Ray’s band’s performances. Owen hopes to extend the evening after the movie, but Ray persuades him by asking for help moving his drums. This leads them to Bertrand’s party, where Owen and Rachel end up in bed.
Owen, Ray, and two of their friends are asked to serve as pallbearers when the father of their friend Matt dies in New Jersey. While Owen is out of town, Lynn and Rachel meet, and Lynn learns the truth about what Owen and Rachel did. Lynn wants to break up with Owen.
Owen takes Ray to the film festival where he hopes to win an award for his short film. When they arrive, their driver Les is supposed to take them to the airport motel, but Ray spots Wallace Shawn and learns he is staying at the Four Seasons. Ray and Owen go to the Four Seasons, and Ray overhears that Shawn’s son will be late, so Ray claims to be Shawn’s son, earning themselves a nice room. At the festival, Owen does not win anything. After returning to the hotel, their scheme is discovered and they are kicked out. Owen repeatedly calls Lynn trying to make up with her, but she never answers and the two are never again shown together. In Lynn’s last scene, she is getting ready to go on a date with Noam.
At the end of the movie, some time has passed: Ray has straightened his life out, he has a good job, and he has a good relationship with his daughter. Owen has produced a successful television commercial.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:28
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New York City Serenade Timeline
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Characters, Settings & Themes in New York City Serenade
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape New York City Serenade. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
