Now here is a rarity in today’s cinematic landscape – a romantic that is entertaining, makes you laugh and can actually be enjoyed by guys as well. On paper Something Borrowed doesn’t look that interesting but with a witty script and well-developed characters it’s a film that you can genuinely enjoy.
Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin – TV’S Big Love, Margene’s Blog) and Darcy (Kate Hudson – A Little Bit Of Heaven, The Killer Inside Me) have been friends since they were little girls. But is becoming more obvious that Darcy gets whatever she wants even if that means Rachel has to go without. That is certainly the case when it comes to Rachel’s best friend, Dex (Colin Egglesfield – The Au Pairs, TV’S Hawaii Five-O). Rachel has loved Dex ever since they first met but before she could ever pluck up the courage to ask him out Darcy jumped at the opportunity. Now with Darcy and Dex’s wedding fast approaching Rachel and Dex find themselves in bed…together. Now Rachel must decide whether to be quite and keep the peace or to follow her friend Ethan’s (John Krasinski – It’s Complicated, TV’S The Office: U.S. Version) advice and finally go for something that she wants.
Director, Luke Greenfield (The Law, TV’S Aliens In America) was in cruise control while at the helm of Something Borrowed because screenwriter, Jennie Snyder (TV’S 90210, Lipstick Jungle) had done all the hard work and turned Emily Giffin’s novel into something magnificent. The characters really come to life in this film and through some great writing from Snyder you find yourself barracking for Rachel even though she is technically the ‘other woman’. She does this by brilliantly making Darcy such an unlikeable character, deadset I think Rachel could kill Darcy in cold blood and you would still find yourself sitting there and thinking ‘yep she deserved that’. The ending may have been a bit of a cliché but the rest of the film you are genuinely sitting there and wanting to know what will happen next. Snyder even managed to make some of the scenes ‘laugh-out-loud’ worthy.
Hudson does a great job making Darcy unlikable but this really is Goodwin’s movie. She shines and shows Hollywood she is really ready to be a leading lady. Egglesfield is also likable as Dex but he is overshadowed by John Krasinski who steals the comedy limelight. He is so good that at times you actually find yourself wishing that Rachel would end up with Ethan.
Something Borrowedcertainly isn’t a masterpiece but it is an enjoyable film that is more than worth the admission price. One of the best romantic comedies to surface in a long time.
Year: 2011
Director: Luke Greenfield
Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski
Classification: M
Runtime: 112 mins
Rating: 