Something Borrowed (2011) starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams, Geoff Pierson, Jill Eikenberry directed by Luke Greenfield Movie Review

Something Borrowed (2011)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Ginnifer Goodwin in Something Borrowed (2011)

Take it and Keep it

Back in college Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) had a crush on Dex (Colin Egglesfield) but rather than do anything about it ended up playing a part in setting him up with her life long friend Darcy (Kate Hudson) who likes to have things her own way. Whilst Darcy and Dex get engaged Rachel remains single and patiently putting up with Darcy's centre of attention ways even at her surprise 30th birthday party. But that is when it all goes wrong as when Dex and Darcy share a cab she decides to tell him how she felt about him in college and one thing leads to another and they end up in bed together. Feeling guilty over what they did they try to put it behind them but can't resist each other leaving them both conflicted as Rachel turns to best friend Ethan (John Krasinski) for advice whilst Dex tries to talk to his father.

Unlikeable, unlikeable, seriously is she meant to be an ugly duckling, unlikeable were the words I jotted down as I sat through "Something Borrowed" a movie which for a romantic comedy is misguided. The thing is that "Something Borrowed" isn't exactly new, a woman sleeps with her best friend's fiancee and then feels guilt for her actions turning to another friend for advice all of which are screaming cliches. And the way this plays out with Rachel's guilt soothed by the discovery that not only has Darcy lied to them both but she also cheated on Dex is as cliche as everything else in this movie. But cliche doesn't mean terrible as a lot of movies are built on cliche and still work, this one doesn't.

Kate Hudson in Something Borrowed (2011)

Why? Well let's get the almost inconsequential out the way with first and the humour be it Rachel being a bit of a klutz in college to Rachel and Dex waking up naked to the reality of what they did falls flat over and over again. Even Ashley Williams playing a bubbly friend with a thing for Ethan falls flat although her cleavage doesn't which seems to get a lot of attention. Then there is Ginnifer Goodwin who is suppose to be the ugly ducking sort of character, the less glamorous, conservatively dressing career girl which is the least convincing ugly ducking set up you will find.

But the real killer is that with the exception of John Krasinski as Ethan there is not a likeable character in the entire movie with shallow characters who act falsely, act mean to each other and are generally obnoxious in a whole range of ways. Now in the case of Kate Hudson as Darcy she is meant to be unlikeable as we discover she is a manipulative, self centred cow but the rest of the characters are just not good. Having said that if the intention was for us to watch a group of shallow, unlikeable people then the acting through out worked.

What this all boils down to is that "Something Borrowed" is two hours of watching unlikeable characters being unlikeable and excruciatingly false. The only thing it has going in its favour is the actors who when you detach them from their characters are a likeable bunch. Public Health warning: once "Something Borrowed" is over there is a good chance you will be left with a thumping headache.


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