Adam Collins posted on May 10, 2011 00:00
The last two movies I reviewed have been of the action genre so, I decided I to take The Wife to the newest romantic dramedy Something Borrowed. This is the latest movie from director Luke Greenfield (The Animal, The Girl Next Door) and the first feature film from TV writer Jennie Snyder (90210, Gilmore Girls). The movie is based on a novel by Emily Giffin, which I thankfully have not read.
Something Borrowed follows a love triangle that is actually more like a love pentagon or hexagon. Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a successful lawyer whose best friend Darcy (Kate Hudson) is getting married to Dexter (Colin Egglesfield). Darcy and Rachel have been BFF since they were little. Rachel went to law school with Dex, who was in love with her and vice versa, but they never told each other how they feel. Darcy is now engaged to Dex. The rest of the players in this weird love polygon are Marcus (Steve Howey), family friend of Dex, Ethan (John Krasinski), childhood friend of Rachel and Darcy, and Claire (Ashley Williams) ex-lover to Ethan.
The moral of the story revolves around doing what you want to do as opposed to what you are expected to do. This idea is beat into your brain early and often. To summarize the plot would take too long. Basically, rumors circulate about all of the main characters and Dex cheats on Darcy with Rachel. In the end, loyalty and friendships are tested. Dirty secrets are revealed.
Something Borrowed is not a good movie. It has its moments, and its scenes, but in the end, I was not impressed. The biggest thing the film had going for it was Ginnifer Goodwin’s Rachel. She had great chemistry with Dex and Ethan. Ethan got great lines, but his character really did not fit the rest of the movie. Then, there was Kate Hudson’s Darcy who was so irritating and self-centered. I could not believe that a guy who is supposed to be as smart as Dex would want to be married to such a materialistic and annoying woman. My favorite character was Marcus. I spent more time trying to figure out where I knew him from than anything else. Turns out, Steve Howey was in Reba, and was in the funniest scene ever.
One scene that I enjoyed involved badminton. Rachel and Ethan played against Dex and Darcy. For each point scored the other team has to tell a secret. This could have been a tremendous scene, but they cut it too short. It made me realize something: there aren’t enough movies with scenes of badminton in them. This problem should be looked at by Hollywood execs and rectified as soon as possible. The other scene that I liked, The Wife did not care for. There was just something about Rachel and Darcy going back to their childhood roots and doing their old talent show dance routine to Salt N’ Pepa’s “Push It” that I found endearing.
Well, Something Borrowed would definitely not make my short list of favorite romantic comedies. Even The Wife said it was not of the same quality as The Wedding Planner and Serendipity. Guys, if you have to take your significant other to a non-action movie, I feel for you if you wind up here.