I don’t know how true Jennie Snyder’s screenplay is to Emily Griffin’s novel because I never finished reading it. In the movie, smarty-pants lawyer Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) and bossy party girl Darcy (Kate Hudson) are BFFs. After Rachel’s birthday party, she hooks up with her boring but supposedly hunky lawyer friend Dex (Colin Egglesfield) who is also Darcy’s fiancé—oops. Ethan (John Krasinski), the other best friend, makes an insipid story funny while he’s on screen. Too bad Rachel didn’t hook up with him instead—but then we wouldn’t have an excuse for nearly two hours of brooding, law school flashbacks, getting-drunk-in-the-Hamptons montages and sneaking around. I forgot: every intelligent brunette needs a dull pretty boy to feel like her best self. Thanks, Hollywood. Definitely needed that one.
This article appears in May 5-11, 2011.
You really would have preferred a story line that has her settle for the safe bet: childhood best friend instead? I think that is more predictable than any other outcome.
I know hating on romcoms is the easy route, but this movie was actually pretty good!
I don’t think anyone goes to a chick flick expecting oscar worthy material. This review is overly harsh considering the movie isn’t striving to be anything more than a cute story and a fun watch. For fans of the book, you’ll enjoy it, it doesn’t stray far from Giffin’s storyline and the shoutout to the sequel when you see a woman reading Something Blue on a bench is a nice touch, along with the ‘to be continued’ at the end. I think Gennifer Goodwin was a great Rachel and even Kate Hudson was annoying without being hateful. The drunken childhood dance scene was hilarious and the friendship is actually believable. Dex is boring except to look at but that’s no different from the book, the real story is about two childhood best friends who have nothing in common but their history together and what it takes to break that bond. I think we all have those friends that you stay in touch with mostly because they have known you forever, what would it take to sacrifice that friendship? Love?
Something Borrowed is good because it isn’t trying to be more than what it is. It’s a chick flick. If you’re into them, then this is one that’s worth the watch.