Something Borrowed (2011)

From my favorite movies..

A different way of telling a story

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I understand the hatred for this movie by both sexes, but I love this movie. It's one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time. Emily Griffin, the author and screenwriter of this movie, bravely tackled areas in her stories that others don't and I enjoy many of her stories and the universe she created where all the characters are connected somehow and you can see the progression of the characters in different stories. Most of the hatred from this movie comes from the Darcies of the world whether you're male or female. Yes, Darcy, the best friend,did knowingly take Dex, the object of desire, from Rachel six years ago, but most of the audience is on the side of Darcy. Because even though Darcy was obnoxious, Rachel broke the girl code by sleeping with her best friend's man and in a way taking him back from Darcy six years later. The majority of the viewers dislike the characters of Rachel and Dex because Rachel betrayed her best friend and Dex cheated on his fiancée with her best friend. These are two things frowned upon in our society. And then add more dislike if you had this happened to you in real life. This movie draws you in and depending on what side you're on whether you relate to Rachel or Darcy determines whether you like this movie are not. I never had the close female friendship like Darcy and Rachel had in the movie. Most of the girls I befriended or try to always stabbed me in the back or took advantage of me like a Darcy. So I relate more to Rachel's character and even though Darcy played wonderfully by Kate Hudson was so much fun, I rooted for Rachel like Ethan ( John Krasinski) did. Ethan was a combination of two characters from the book and represented more of the audience's viewpoint about the relationship of Darcy, Rachel, and Dex and helped move the plot forward since both Dex and Rachel acted passive aggressive about their predicament. Every Rachel needs an Ethan in her life for motivation to move forward.The movie was well done and very much like the book since it was written by the author with only a few alterations, which is why I took a point off. The editing and music were amazing. The casting was perfect and looked and acted just like the characters of the book. Kate is the perfect Darcy along with Ginnifer as Rachel, Colin as Dex, and John as Ethan. I loved the locations. New York and the Hamptons became characters of the story too. I loved this movie so much and watch it on repeat. The only things I didn't like was coming towards the end when Ethan declared his love for Rachel. It wasn't in the book, came out of left field, and made absolutely no sense. It weakened a perfect character. The other part was the ending when Darcy turns and smiles at Rachel like all is forgiven. Another part that weakened a nearly perfect movie. Darcy doesn't forgive Rachel until the second book Something Blue. I'm disappointed that since this movie has received so much hate and six years have passed, the second movie is unlikely to happened. The actors are now in the forties and all were on board for a second movie years ago, but the critics trashed the movie. I actually like Something Blue as much as I like Something Borrowed. Something Blue would have been about the redemption of Darcy's character and her and Ethan getting together which is why the final scene is of Darcy running after Ethan in London. Yet, I loved this movie, loved the friendship between Darcy and Rachel. I have so many favorite scenes in this movie but one of my favorites was the Salt and Pepper dance scene when they did all the popular hip hop dances. A coworker was the one who introduced me to this movie and paused the movie to break down the name of each dance step. Anyway, I enjoyed this movie. If you're a Rachel of the world who sits back and let someone else take everything away from you, you''ll like this movie. If you are a Darcy and hate when someone breaks the girl or bro code, have been cheated on or betrayed by your close friend, you're going to hate this movie and it will make you mad.

I understand that the movie is based off of a book, so for that reason, I won't rate as terribly as I thought it originally deserved. That being said, most of the movie was pretty good and sucked me in pretty quickly. But then the end happened and I hated Rachel as a character and everyone involved in making this movie for giving it such a cliché ending. She let everyone push her around the whole movie. I thought that maybe there was just a glimpse of hope at the end, but no. Dex had toyed with Rachel for months and cheated on her best friend whom he was engaged to at the time. If he had already been having these thoughts and was a decent man, he would have broken it off before anything happened. I hated him almost immediately. But Rachel on the other hand, I actually kind of liked. I thought maybe, just maybe she would finally realize that she was too good for Dex and didn't need him to be happy. But no. She apparently was completely okay with the fact that he had been cheating with her for months. Of course he's not going to cheat again because they're meant for each other, right? Whatever. I've always found it really funny how this behavior is looked completely down upon in the real world (as it should be) but is practically praised in Hollywood because everyone just knew that they were soulmates. The end of this movie was utter and complete crap, and I use that word because there is just not another one that will accurately and intelligently describe my feelings.

This was a fun chick flick in my opinion, lots of morals involved here and a situation that occurs much more frequently then some people would like to hear. I don't condone cheating but sometimes you have to go where your heart is and in this movie Rachel was merely reclaiming what was hers in the first place. Her BFF didn't really love him anyway and was also sleeping behind his back so I have no sympathy for her whatsoever. In reality Rachel wouldn't have let a hot guy like that go so easily to her BFF. One negative is that if you're going to portray someone as being less attractive than the other girl at least choose an actress that isn't just as pretty as the other. I enjoyed the comedy aspect of the movie too, JK is extremely funny.

The story-line of this movie is absolutely horrible...seemingly written for the immoral, lust-filled soul or proud adulterer. The degradation of morals in America have come to a point of plain dirt, but of course that's what we're made from. It amazes me that Hollywood champions the "goodness" of man yet pumps out stories that literally scream out depravity. Oh how we need redemption Lord Jesus. A pig with lipstick on...that should be the American film logo. Darcy is made out to be this terrible friend, therefore it becomes okay to wrong her. Rachel is supposed to be the sweet, lovable type who constantly gets run over, therefore it makes it okay for her to sin. Yes SIN, that is the best word to describe the backwards "progression" of this debacle of a love story. This is a lust story. Love is not based on feelings & emotions but choices & actions. And Dex, is this guy really supposed to be some kind of knight in shining armor? He is a glutton...TOTALLY selfish. Something Borrowed is shameful as Hollywood & America once again mock the honor of marriage & fidelity. This is a movie of deception, the deception that if you just go for what you want (and feel is deserved), even if it deeply hurts someone else, YOU will be happy in the end. There are dire consequences to sin and the disregard of the feelings or emotions of others. This is a sinful farce of a fairy-tale. Smh