‘Something Borrowed’: A (Sometimes) Funny Adaptation with Kate Hudson

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The term “best-selling author” does not always mean that an author deserves to be such a success or have such a prestigious honor to their name. Chick-lit author Emily Griffin has had her first novel brought to screen in the comedy Something Borrowed. The movie caught my eye because of Kate Hudson and so, I wanted to see it. I don’t know how the original material plays out but here the story goes something like this.

Something Borrowed (2011) Film Review

In college, as a studious law student Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) met and fell hard for the handsome Dex (Colin Eggesfield), but before she makes a move on her friend, in waltzes Darcy (Kate Hudson) with a dare to Dex that he ask her out. Years later, all three are well-established in their careers (well, Darcy just does… whatever it is that Darcy does) and Rachel is playing maid of honor in Darcy’s wedding… to Dex. Still madly in love with a man who’s ring is most definitely NOT on Rachel’s finger, she confides in only one other person about her true feelings; best friend Ethan (John Krasinski).

During a surprise 30^th birthday party for Rachel, things get a little complicated when she has one drink too many and she winds up having to choose between her dreams… or possibly wrecking everything.

I realize this movie has horrible reviews. What little I read about it at press time leads to the conclusion that almost everyone hates the characters, unable to identify with a single one. (Hello! Maybe that is actually a good thing!) To some extent I “get” this and understand what they’re saying. Most the time, when I see a title within this genre (romance-comedy), I am not one to rant and rave about the ins and outs of in-depth immorality (well… most of the time), but when something is meant to entertain, that is what I let the movie do. That does not mean I am immune to character’s immorality or that by seeing something I am placing a stamp of approval on the motivations. And with that being said, strictly looking at it through such a perspective this is a fun flick.

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Before I get too far into this, let me just say that I appreciate the disapproval of this film. As much as I wanted to like this, there’s a lot to take issue with. Darcy sleeps around; Ethan has a one-night stand; Marcus (forgot to mention this dude; he’s a flake) sleeps with any woman. And then there is Rachel and Dex; arguably the two people we should root most for. The story turns morality and good upside down. It promotes promiscuity, lying, and cheating. There are fleeting moments that seem real. A lot of Rachel’s and Darcy’s scenes are sweet, like when they perform a silly dance or Darcy wondering who she is. Despite this, you have to look deep for the lesson. One of them is in how not to treat girl friends. In a different way Rachel is as bad a person as Darcy.

Though there is a moral ambiguity involved in this entire film – there is no brief inclusion, it runs throughout – for me the worst part is Dex’s convoluted relationships. The fact that he couldn’t be a man and make his own decisions (he lets his family influence him) makes him a hero without gumption. What kind of guy admits to being “in love” with his soul mate while sharing a life with another woman? There is just something very wrong with that picture. (And Rachel was just as guilty in the duplicity if not more so. Rachel thought so little of herself that she was willing to give in to anything to be in a relationship – the relationship she has wanted for years; her behavior suggested a minimal amount of self-respect.)

Unfortunately, this is a story hard to recommend. It would benefit from some discretion (or maybe a LOT). In the end, the film kind of manages to turn a pretty wedding adage on its side, in the process making us realize that this “borrowed” is something not quite as wholesome as we’d like to relate to such a saying.

Content: Something Borrowed is PG13 for countless sexual references; we hear and learn of various affairs and one-night stands. For laughs, there’s a homosexual gag; and “noise” from a couple having sex. Several scenes take place in bars and profanity is works throughout the script. On Clearplay, the film improves but the implication is always still there. 

Photos: Alcon Entertainment / Warner Bros.