Something Borrowed Review

Business rating: 0.5/5 star

Star cast: Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski, Colin Egglesfield.

Plot: After sacrificing her love (Colin Egglesfield) for her best friend (Kate Hudson), a 30-year-old lawyer (Ginnifer Goodwin) has a secret affair with the guy (Colin Egglesfield) before he gets married to the best friend. What happens then?

What’s Good: The emotional drama, which will appeal to teenaged girls.

What’s Bad: The clichéd script; average performances; the excessive length of the film.

Verdict: Something Borrowed is a disappointing fare. It will do poor business at the Indian box-office.

Loo break: Several.

Watch or Not?: Watch only if you have a soft corner for long, pseudo-romantic movies.

2S Films, Alcon Entertainment and Wild Ocean Films’ Something Borrowed is the story of two best friends who are in love with the same man.

While Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Dex (Colin Egglesfield) were cozying up at law college, Rachel’s best friend, party girl Darcy (Kate Hudson), wooed Dex away. Rachel, who nurtured an inferiority complex about her beauty, let the handsome Dex fall into Darcy’s arms.

Now, many years on, Darcy and Dex are about to get married, when the passion between Rachel and Dex is reignited. So, Dex and Rachel carry on with a secret affair, but they also go through the motions of daily life. And as Darcy’s maid of honour, Rachel even helps Darcy pick out the bridal dress, among other marriage preparations.  But when Rachel’s friend, Ethan (John Krasinski), asks her about the status of her relationship with Dex, who is soon going to be a married man , Rachel has no answers.

Later, when Rachel confronts Dex, the latter says that he cannot call off the marriage against his parents’ wishes. Heart-broken, Rachel leaves for London, where Ethan has recently shifted base. She also stops taking calls from a harried Darcy, who wants Rachel to be next to her at the marriage. What happens then? Does the marriage of Dex and Darcy go through, as planned? Or does Dex sacrifice his marriage for Rachel? What about Ethan? The rest of the film answers these questions.

Something Borrowed Review – Script Analysis

Something Borrowed is based on the borrowed premise (love triangle) that has been the staple of numerous films before. Unfortunately for the audience, Jennie Snyder’s screenplay, based on Emily Giffin’s eponymous novel, has nothing new to offer. It goes round and round with tiresome interactions between a set of stereotypical characters – Darcy as the free-spirited party girl; Dex as the fumbling fiancé; Ethan as the Devil’s Advocate; and Rachel as the damsel in distress. The narrative is as simple and straightforward as it can be and that makes the film predictable and boring. Also, the running time (110  minutes approximately) for a film like this makes it difficult to sit through.

Moreover, one doesn’t feel any sympathy for any of the characters in the film, which happens to be the script’s biggest drawback. The audience is also unable to decide with whom to move in the drama. There is a little bit of humour sprinkled here and there in the dialogues, but that just doesn’t add up. The overt and mushy romance in a few scenes might appeal to young girls in the audience but that’s about it. The climax (where there is the usual twist in the end) also does not work, in spite of the happy ending.

Something Borrowed Review – Performances & Direction

Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson do fair jobs. Colin Egglesfield looks stone-faced, his chiselled torso notwithstanding. John Krasinski takes the cake in his small role as Rachel’s dear friend. Steve Howey (as the Casanova) and Ashley Williams (as the ugly girl) support well.

Luke Greenfield’s direction is not bad but he has been unable to narrate the story in a compelling and engaging style. Alex Wurman’s background score is okay. Charles Minsky’s cinematography is so-so. Editor John Axelrad could have done with a few more cuts.

Something Borrowed Review – Verdict

On the whole, Something Borrowed is a half-baked fare which does not quite entertain. Expect it to fare poorly at the Indian box-office.