SOMETHING BORROWED
US, 2011, 115 minutes. Colour.
Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams.
Directed by Luke Greenfield.
From a novel by Emily Giffen who wrote a sequel, Something Blue ... and at the end of this film, we read ‘to be continued’.
That should be good news for the target audience of Something Borrowed (and I don’t think it is a male audience unless they are accompanying wives and girlfriends). Men definitely take back seat in this one.
While Kate Hudson has top billing, this is really a Ginnifer Goodwin film. Kate is Darcy, an extravert and party animal off the page, the best friend since childhood of Ginnifer’s Rachel, now a reputable lawyer. The film opens with Darcy hosting a surprise 30th birthday party for Rachel. And, the initial complication? Darcy is engaged to be married to Dex (Colin Egglesfield) in 61 days. Rachel has had an unadmitted crush on Dex since study days (we are treated to a number of flashbacks to appreciate this) and he is not really over her.
Rachel tries her best but at times it is too hard for her. Dex might look the part, but he is really a coward at heart and dominated in his career, his impending marriage and his choice of home by his father who knows only how to control.
In the background is Rachel’s genial friend, Ethan, an aspiring novelist (John Kraziniski), played with some charm and fine one-liners (‘The Hamptons are a zombie movie designed by Ralph Lauren’). He is also being pursued relentlessly by Darcy’s friend, Claire.
Needless to say, Rachel can’t tell Darcy the truth. Dex can’t get out from under his father’s thumb to do anything to resolve the issues. Ethan goes to England for the editing of his book. Rachel visits him to make a decision.
Taking a cue from French farces, the ending has people hiding in other rooms and overhearing things and leaving their coats in the open so that truth discovery is inevitable.
Kate Hudson is perfect in her over-lively role (and can be rather wearying). Ginnifer Goodwin has to do the acting – but, if only Ethan could get her to make a decision before all the anguish. And, Dex, well good looks are certainly not everything.
The film does show the ups and downs of friendship between the two women quite effectively.
1. Romantic comedy – with serious undertones?
2. The focus on the women, the different types, friendship, loves, domination, betrayal, marriage, pregnancy?
3. The picture of the men: on the surface, weak, cowardly, indecisive, boorish, sexist? Best friend and adviser? Dominating father and expectations?
4. The title – for Rachel, for Darcy?
5. Audience response to Rachel, arrival at the party, the surprise, Darcy and her speech, Ethan and his support, Dex and his congratulating her for looking surprised? The Power Point presentation, the images, the history of the friendship? Darcy always winning, Rachel always conceding? The issue of Notre Dame – and the truth, Darcy never admitting it?
6. The response to Darcy, Ethan and his negative reaction, Dex and the engagement? Extrovert off the page, party animal, her speech, her love for Rachel, the drinking, the engagement and the sixty-one days to the wedding?
7. Rachel at work, her memories, Dex and the study, his help, the library, the pens? The bar, Darcy coming, her coming on to Dex, Rachel and her leaving? Her crush on Dex? Going to the bar after the birthday party, telling Dex about the crush, their reaction, the relationship, Dex and his texting and phoning?
8. Ethan, the good friend, his own life, writing the novel, his personality and wisecracks, listening, Claire and her pursuit of him, pretending to be gay, on the weekends, urging Rachel to face the truth, the game and the revealing of secrets, his efforts? The reaction of Rachel, his nose? Telling Rachel the truth? His going to England, Rachel’s visit? The end – with Claire pursuing him?
9. Dex’s story, seemingly strong, studying law, talking with Rachel, the pens, helping her with the study, at the bar, Darcy and his engagement? His wealth? The parents and their domination, expectations? Phoning and texting? The weekends at the Hamptons? His not going on the Fourth of July, with Rachel, the sexual relationship? Meeting his parents, asking his father the question, his father and his answer about doing right? His going to see the house with Darcy? Rachel angry, the roses, the messages? The different relationship with Darcy after the Fourth of July? Rachel in the rain, returning, the truth? Her going to England and his wanting to be there when she returned? His jacket in her apartment, Darcy catching them? The truth? The breaking off of the wedding?
10. Darcy and her type, always winning, using people, the wedding dress, the writing of the vows and Rachel supplying them, her demands, phone calls, with Dex, seeing the house, the weekends, the secrets, her suspicions, the rumour about Ethan and Rachel, her version of calling off the wedding, visiting Rachel, the encounters with Marcus, her telling the truth? Her anger? Pregnancy – and the renewal of the friendship?
11. Rachel’s life, work, not liking her work? Her personality, quiet, indecisive, not wanting to hurt her best friend? Going to London, talking things over with Ethan, his always being steady support for her? Going to the wedding, the return, Dex at her apartment, the truth? The confrontation with Darcy? The final dash two months later and the encounter?
12. Marcus, hitting on all the women, sexist, boorish? The relationship with Darcy? His discussions with Rachel?
13. Dex’s parents, stern, wealthy, keeping up appearances?
14. Claire, desperate, her pursuit of Ethan, on the weekends? His sexuality and her determination to cure him? The final pursuit?
15. Life, experiences, the difference between wanting and doing what is right, principles, moral anchors? The thirtysomethings and their experiences, relationships, sexuality, awareness – and the values and doing what was right?
