DVD Reviews

Something Borrowed – Blu-ray Review

By Dana Rae Aug 23, 2011, 1:17 GMT

Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a generous and loyal pal to her engaged best friend Darcy (Kate Hudson). But after celebrating her 30th birthday, perpetual good girl Rachel unexpectedly ends up in the arms of Dex (Colin Egglesfield), the guy she’s had a crush on since law school…and who happens to be Darcy’s fiancé. In the frantic weeks leading up to Darcy’s wedding, Rachel finds herself caught between her long-time friendship ...more

Something Borrowed might make you a bit blue. It’s quite forgettable and is pretty bad all the way around. It has bad acting, bad story, and bad directing.

On top of the all the bad, there is Kate Hudson’s annoying screaming throughout the entire film. She really does an excellent job being the annoying friend (insert sarcastic tone). So much so I wanted to reach through the screen and smack her.

The premise of this hideous waste of time and talent is that Darcy (Hudson) and Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin, Big Love) have been friends since they popped out of the womb and said hi. You would think that that would be a bonding agent and they would be such bbf’s that Rachel wouldn’t go behind Darcy’s back and start an affair with Darcy’s fiancé Dex (Colin Egglesfield).

But she does. Granted, she has known our darling Dex longer and actually introduced Darcy to him, but darn it, she had feelings for him! And apparently he for her. The two of them decide to keep their newly expressed feelings for each other a shhhhhhh! secret. Despite the fact that Darcy is Rachel’s best friend and Dex is the love of her life…you get the idea and the plot.

Supposedly these are a thirty-something crowd that have been through law school but failed to gain any maturity or work ethic. The audience never sees Darcy working. There is a scene with Rachel coming into work but she looks at the flowers Dex has secretly sent her, has a conversation with fellow friend Ethan (John Krasinski, The Office), and then she and Ethan go to lunch. This struck me as very odd. Why go to work just to go to lunch? I want her work schedule.

Mostly what we get is the weekend end life of these supposedly best buds. This includes a trip to The Hamptons, a bachelorette party for Darcy, and lots and lots of drunkenness. And Kate Hudson screaming her fool head off.

The only saving grace is Claire (Ashley Williams). She constantly hits on Ethan until he tells her he is gay and then, instead of leaving him be, she takes it as a challenge of her womanhood to turn him back. They had some funny moments as they banter back and forth. I wanted to see more of their story. Forget about Darcy and Dex and the other one, the real gems in this farce of a movie are Claire and Ethan. But not enough to be a saving grace.

Things go from bad to worse as the movie progresses and I lost any sort of emotional attachment to the characters. Marcus’ (Steve Howey) chipmunk story moved me a little but then the second time he told it I lost interest. Egglesfield’s ability to look and sound a lot like a young Tom Cruise also annoyed me. I began to not care at all if things worked out or not for our two secretive lovebirds and their clandestine love.

The other real annoyance besides the many I have mentioned is Goodwin’s aptitude for playing the victim. She is spineless and lacking in self-confidence and it shows and I don’t think she is acting.

Although I have heard the Something Borrowed novel is extremely good, my advice is to pass on this movie by all together. Almost the same movie, but done better and funnier, Bride Wars (which also stars Hudson), could be watched over and you wouldn’t miss a thing. Anne Hathaway fits better into the role of best friend turned worst enemy. A definite miss on all levels, don’t waste your time.