Anthony Pittore III

19 May 2012

A Simply Unbearable Group of People

'Something Borrowed' is based on the novel of the same name by EmilyGriffin which I've never heard of. It concerns a group ofthirtysomethings as they struggle through a love rectangle or trapezoidor whatever shape is made up by Kate Hudson ('How to Lose a Guy in 10Days'), Ginnifer Goodwin ('Big Love'), John Krasinski ('The Office'),and the unfortunately named Colin Egglesfield ('Melrose Place'). It'salso occasionally a love pentagon or hexagon if you count AshleyWilliams & Steve Howey. As are typical in stories about differentlyshaped loves, there's lots of betrayal amongst of friends, panicking ofunfaithfuls, heartfelt conversations covered in rain, and unnecessarystupidity of everyone involved. . . but, that last bit is expected inany romance, cinematic or real.One major problem with a film about infidelity is that it's impossibleto really like anyone involved with the scandal. Here, we only have theRachel, the woman who betrays her friend (Goodwin); Dex, the fiancé whobetrays his love (Egglesfield); and, Darcy, the woman betrayed by both(Hudson). Typically, you can associate with those cheated on solelythrough sympathy, but that was made difficult for two reasons: 1)Darcy's a secondary character who seems to always act like that girlwho always gets too drunk at college parties; and, 2) The movieconstantly acts as if it's going to reveal something negative about herpast (spoiler: it does). Granted, no one deserves to be hurt this wayfor being annoying, but she's still not an enjoyable character towatch. Maybe things would be different if Darcy and Rachel's roles wereswapped, but we all know of hindsight's perfection. Left alone behindall this despicable behaviour is the typical nice guy Ethan (Krasinski)who, along only with Dex's dad, acts as a voice of reason in the film.Unfortunately, he's like an umbrella in a hurricane, unable to rescuethis mess of humanity from themselves. Now, I suppose this is a film that's not meant to be enjoyed on thelevel of a typical romantic comedy; but, with this cast and a sugary,generic title like 'Something Borrowed,' a viewer should not be forcedto withstand the cringe-inducing behaviour like that of Dex & Rachel.Never have I so wanted the leads of a romance to be hit by a New Yorkcabbie. Then again, I also wished that fate upon myself for a while toalleviate the misery of watching these monsters. Clearly, writer JennieSnyder & director Luke Greenfield, who have both successfully worked inromance before this film, have talent that should carry them throughtheir futures, but a film this unlikable was not their best stepforward to that future. A romance hasn't been this depressing sincelast year's 'Blue Valentine,' but at least that film succeeded becauseof its sad nature and didn't have to battle against it.Final Verdict: 4/10.-AP3-

alkistis-ever

18 May 2012

Loved it!

OK, I can understand what they're all complaining about. I mean it'sabout this guy who can't decide if he wants to marry his longtimefiancée or break it off and be with the one he truly loves. But, comeon, isn't this what the majority of us would do? Plus, he was concernedabout his mother's health. I don't know, maybe I liked it because I canrelate to Rachel's character(my best friend too has the "charisma" ofalways having everything working out for her and gets all theattention, but love her nonetheless). I admit the ending was a bitweird. It was quite dramatic but I didn't expect a comedy. I mean itdoesn't look like a movie with many laughs from the trailer.(althoughJohn krasinski was really funny) So people who complain about thisdon't really have a say on the matter. The trailer says it all. Also,there was this moment where Rachel tells her true feelings to Dex and Ipersonally felt really awkward imagining me being in her shoes. True,Colin Egglesfield's acting was a bit bland but I think it worked outfine for the movie! I would watch it again, I really would. Especiallyon a rainy night, eating pasta and drinking wine. Loved it.

17 May 2012

Really enjoyed it!

This review is from: Something Borrowed (Amazon Instant Video) I loved seeing the truth of a love almost lost, but taken back when stood up for no matter the difficulties. This is a movie about not saying what you should when you should because you are too scared or uncertain. It is a movie about real life, real love and real friendship.

17 May 2012

chick flick

This review is from: Something Borrowed (Amazon Instant Video) Movie had some ups and downs but very predictable ending. Even my wife thought it was only 3 star movie and we both would have liked little more comedy.

collipal-1

17 May 2012

Not great, but an entertaining romantic comedy

By this moment, my brain should have already developed a defensemechanism against any new romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson, but italways seems to happen the opposite, because I always find excuses togo to see them. In the case of Something Borrowed, the excuse was thepresence in the cast from Ginnifer Goodwin and John Krasinski, whosehabitual style of comedy suggested something a bit different to anyother "chick-flick" of a similar manufacture. And I have to say thatSomething Borrowed ended up being an entertaining romantic comedy,specially thanks to Goodwin's performance.Goodwin brings a good and likable performance in here, and I think thatshe made the movie to seem better than what it really is. Krasinskialso makes a competent work. Pity that the screenplay brings hischaracter a forced romance which works as a sub-plot. ScreenwriterJennifer Snyder could keep some suspense about the destiny from themain character's romantic future, but after all, the formula is notvery different to the one used in uncountable romantic comedies.As for the performances from the rest of the cast, Colin Egglesfieldfeels a bit insipid as the gallant, while Hudson makes a competent workas the strident and narcissistic "best friend". In summary, SomethingBorrowed is not a highly memorable film, but it made me have a goodtime while I was watching it, something which does not happen to mevery often with a romantic comedy, so I consider it worthy of amoderate recommendation.

misterwunderfool

17 May 2012

Comedy or satire?

Nice Girls Don’t, Good Girls DoSomething Borrowed begins happy and frivolous. Nice chit chat. But ultimately finds humor in ironic ridicule. The social philosophy starts out socially positive (naïve?), but ends socially negative (sophisticated?). The humor begins light hearted and ends with ridicule.Rachel’s best friend Darcy has a perfect relationship and engagement with Dex, a young ladies man, actually a gentleman. Darcy is a bon vivant and Rachel is a moralist, which is odd for a lawyer. The problem is Rachel falls for Dex, maybe she always did love him in the closet over the years, and finally Rachel sleeps with Dex, Darcy’s fiancé.The movie is mostly shown from Rachel’s point of view, what Rachel knows and experiences. So, the movie is somewhat of a revelation . And the viewer learns about the big unknown picture of life as Rachel does. Most movies appear to be omniscient because of the omniscient camera, but some movies like this one are mostly a third person limited point of view. Life is like a movie. The individual only knows what the individual experiences, so people and situations are like mysteries which slowly reveal themselves, often ironically, from experience or hearsay. In Something Borrowed, mostly the viewer is Rachel and identifies with Rachel. No. I am not a transvestite. Rachel is the focal point of the story movie.Something Borrowed is a comedy, but mostly it is a morality play. All’s fair in love and war? No. Not in either. The movie begins as a happy friendly comedy about ideal relationships--friendship, fun, socializing, laughs, hopes, dreams---perhaps the beginning is naïve and superficial, but nice. But as the movie progresses the people and situations become less ideal and more imperfect. I can understand that. Star crossed friends and lovers.Slowly the movie turns away from romantic social idealism toward sarcasm and social and romantic criticism. I like the escapist idealism, but I understand or identify with the sarcasm more personally. The sarcasm got me at “hello”.I like chick flicks. Two women are credited with writing the screenplay, so I guess this is a feminine point of view. Men and women not only look different, they often think differently, have different desires and goals in life. As a chick flick Something Borrowed is a satirical bubble burster.The acting was “good”, that is natural or persuasive, real. The acting and direction was probably good because the script was good, and the actors knew it. They had the feeling, “I can do this. I KNOW this person, this story.” The movie has sincerity. It is not a phony. The humor is more witty than dumb.Good casting or type casting. The actors and actresses made the characters their own. The characters seemed real. Rachel makes a nice conscientious best friend, whose own actions are justified by the actions of others, namely Darcy, ultimately. Dex is conventional and conscientious, a gentleman philanderer. Marcus was a little anti-social, immature, competitive, and too outspoken or frank for chit chat. Ethan a little nerdy, but a good friend. And Claire provided some comedy as the aggressive rejected female. Kate Hudson was especially well cast as the flippant Darcy. Hudson seems to have had in some movies the same “I’m too good for this and these people” attitude or demeanor her mother developed in later movies. Goldie Hawn seemed to transform on film over the years from a vivacious, silly, giggly, pixie, to a social snob. Goldie went from cute to glamorous. I noticed Kate Hudson seemed to have the same snobbish quality in some films, less so in this recent movie. Basically, a swinger, a little arrogance suits Darcy well. And Hudson has a nice look. While she may have got her mother’s figure, mostly it appears she got her father’s facial characteristics. A little poetic justice there. (hint: I read she didn't get along with her father) There is a tag to this movie after the credits, don’t miss it. Most people in the theatre did. What was the significance of the final ending tag? I’m not sure. I suppose Darcy’s back-up plan didn’t work and maybe Ethan was more of a ladies man than we thought he was. Ultimately, this nice friendly respectable social romance finds humor in irony and sarcasm. I hate to say I liked this movie because I am also a sarcastic social and romantic loser, but that’s the reason. Consolation. However, I think I could enjoy a nicer, idealistic social romance with a more positive attitude toward socializing and romance too. Something Borrowed is not a MEAN movie; I think it is just trying to be honest and self-expressive, even if the honesty and self-expression is a little anti-social. Yea. Honesty in art and movie, that’s what it is about. Art, real communication and commentary is NOT phony. Art is NOT a marketing strategy. Movies should NOT be a planned sales campaign. Maybe that is why so few artists are allowed to work in Hollywood. It is a pleasure to see at least a few honest films make it through the movie business hierarchy.“Something borrowed” is an apt descriptive title for philandering. What is for keeps? The movie is a funny, ironic, thoughtful, sincere situational comedy. Not for Puritans.

13 May 2012

Laugh and Cry! Love it!

This review is from: Something Borrowed (Amazon Instant Video) One of my favorite romantic comedies! Good actors and actresses, great story line, full of laughs, and tears. Perfect romantic comedy!

12 May 2012

"Something Borrowed" is a good time!

This review is from: Something Borrowed [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) John Krasinski and Kate Hudson make this romantic comedy an enjoyable, warm, and funny ride. The other two leads do not quite reach the same level of hilarity.

12 May 2012

Great movie!!

This review is from: Something Borrowed (DVD) Such a cute love story. A movie I just had to have for my collection! I think it is a must see :)

12 May 2012

It was ok if you have nothing else to do

Movie was ok. Typical and pretty well acted. Predictable. I watched it just after Bridesmaids, which was funnier and more interesting, or I might have ranked it higher. It just couldnt compete in the area of comedy. I cant recommend it as a must see, but if you have nothing else yo do, it can pass the time for you with a little interest involved.

11 May 2012

nice movie

This review is from: Something Borrowed (DVD) Movie was good, for a romantic comedy it was not too unrealistic and the only reason 1 star was taken off was for that it was hard to watch the gal opposite Kate Hudson suffer under her selfishness sooooooooooo long, but that drove home the point and set up the ending....pleasant weekend watch.

11 May 2012

This movie is as bad as everyone says it is

I'm a big fan of romantic comedies. Romantic comedies almost always get bashed by critiques, but I usually find something entertaining in their cliched, predictable stories. SOMETHING BORROWED is no different, receiving about a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, this movie fails to offer any character to root for, any character that behaves rationally, or any situation that deserves laughter or praise.Kate Hudson's Darcy is marrying Tom Cruise look-alike Dex (Collin Egglesfield), but best friend Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) sleeps with Dex as the movie opens. That's the major conflict. Does Rachel really love Dex? How does Dex feel about Rachel. Can either of them break the news to Darcy? The plot is decent enough, except there is more, including the incredibly pointless Ethan (John Krasinski). Why he is in this movie? Oh, this movie is based on a book, and his character probably had a reason for existing in the book, but not in the movie. There really isn't any reason to watch the romantic comedy released in the summer. If you must have one, it is Ginnifer Goodwin. She's cute and a good actress and fun to watch. Unfortunately, the story gives none of the cast any favors as it seems to last forever and in the end makes no sense.

10 May 2012

Wanted to love it, HATED it

This review is from: Something Borrowed (Amazon Instant Video) I quite like romantic comedies and was in the mood to see one. This actually looked good when it was in theaters but i never got the chance to go so i was all over this rental. Well im sorry to say it was ho-rri-ble! I couldn't even finish watching it, that's how painful it was. Totally predictable, flat; non funny jokes, despicable best friend and just lame across the board. I think i watched about 45 minutes then i could no longer bear it. Wish I had stayed away.

MLDinTN

09 May 2012

a movie about 2 selfish, lying best friends...

if that sounds great to you, then check this film out. But I thoughtthis was terrible. All 3 main characters in this are terrible to oneanother and claim to be best friends. Dex and Darcy are to be married;however, Rachel was the first to meet Dex in law school. She basicallylet Darcy have him by not being proactive. So, just weeks before thewedding, Rachel and Dex sleep together and the next you know, they saythey love each other, but Dex doesn't want to leave Darcy. And theycontinue the affair. Rachel is supposed to be the good one here, buthow can you even like her with what she is doing behind her bestfriends back. Then at the end to make it "OK" for Rachel to be withDex, Darcy announces she's pregnant by some other guy. So lame.BTW: Kate Hudson looks awful in this. They must have run out of budgetfor all the airbrushing for her.FINAL VERDICT: Do not watch this.

06 May 2012

Liked it alot

Watched it on a plane and enjoyed it very much. It surprised me that I liked it as much as I did.

TenSecondScoop

05 May 2012

Something Borrowed, Weak Reviews – 36% Positive (from 41 US Critics)

Wesley Morris from Boston Globe, "…if it weren't so sad watching KateHudson pick away at this skimpy, overlong romantic lie, she might beentertaining… The filmmaking is as plain as its protagonist and as 'whocares?' as its antagonist." Emanuel Levy from Cinema 24/7, "…ham-fisted… Goodwin and Egglesfieldare cute but not that interesting to watch, especially not for a couplehours. Neither has the charisma or chops to carry a rom-com…" Roger Ebert from RogerEbert.com,"…gathers an undeniable narrativemomentum in its last half, because all of the characters are treatedsincerely and played in a straightforward style. It's just that wedon't love them enough." www.tensecondscoop.com -Fast access to a movie's critical ratings

Ed Uyeshima

05 May 2012

Formulaic and Tiresome Rom-Com Focuses on Ethically Challenged Lovers

Had the smarter, more unpredictable "Bridesmaids" not opened in thesame month, perhaps this studio-manufactured 2011 rom-com would haveseemed fresher and more appealing. Not a chance. This film would havebeen dreary no matter when it was released simply because director LukeGreenfield and first-time screenwriter Jennie Snyder regale in thetired clichés that permeate what passes for a story of a femalefriendship that unravels over the noncommittal man that comes betweenthem. Based on Emily Giffin's 2005 chick-lit novel, the movie focuseson the ethical compromises women make when they hit their thirties andfind themselves enduring the pressure of getting married. Such is thecase with Rachel White, a rising attorney who gets herself drunk enoughat her thirtieth birthday party to sleep with Dex Thaler, the fiancé ofher best friend Darcy Rhone. What Rachel thinks is an unfortunateone-night stand becomes something deeper since Rachel has had a crushon Dex since they attended NYU law school together.Once their unrequited love for each other becomes exposed, theinevitable complications ensue. However, the complications are lessabout ethics and more about setting the stage in typical by-the-numbersfashion for the final pay-off. To make the affair between Rachel andDex seem less illicit, Darcy is, of course, portrayed as aself-absorbed narcissist none the wiser for the deception that theillicit lovers are perpetuating. The only one who knows what's going onis Rachel's conveniently platonic friend Ethan, who naturallyencourages her to tell the truth to Darcy. Meanwhile, Darcy is tryingto pair Rachel off with a moronic player named Marcus, which shows justhow little she thinks of her friend. Endlessly perplexed as to what heshould do, Dex continually succumbs to family pressure and turns Rachelaway. The back-and-forth shenanigans grow tired quickly, and the filmbecomes an exercise in patience and sheer boredom. My sympathies go outmainly to Ginnifer Goodwin and Colin Egglesfield who have to playRachel and Dex in a constant state of frustrated yearning. Goodwin, inparticular, has charm to spare, but her efforts are wasted here.No stranger to stupid rom-coms, the indefatigable Kate Hudson appearsto be playing the same role she played in the similarly bird-brained"Bride Wars", but the enervated air of indifference that informs herperformance here is the only reason I find her tolerable. However,leave it to John Krasinski to steal the picture as Ethan, awarm-hearted lug of a confidante who would have been gay in any otherformulaic film and provides the only link to reality for the viewer.His is the one voice of reason for Rachel, but all the while, I keptthinking how this likable actor really needs to fire his agent and geta role worthy of his comic talents. Steve Howey as Marcus and AshleyWilliams as a horsey girl obsessed with Ethan play their repellentstock roles predictably. The movie bounces between Manhattan and theHamptons in a superficial manner befitting the shallow characters. Atthe end of it all (…and it felt quite long at 112 minutes), youcouldn't help but think to yourself that they all deserve each other.Sad to say that Hilary Swank was one of the producers of thiscommercial drivel.

Pocket_boy

04 May 2012

So morally conflicting!

I went in to this movie expecting a fun light-hearted funny romanticcomedy. Boy was i wrong! It started out on an okay note with a tackysurprise party for Rachel (Goodwin) thrown by her life-long best friendDarcy (Hudson), and did i mention life long? We'll come back to that.well no more then ten minutes later Rachel has slept with Dex(Egglesfield) Darcy's fiancé. Now let me remind you that Rachel andDarcy have been best friends since early childhood.The rest of the movie is tennis game of rationalization and guilt witha few smatterings of clever witty one liners. and in the end Darcy andRachel's relation ship is completely ruined and Rachel and Dex livehappily ever after. In the final scene after Dacry has discovered theaffair and not seen Rachel for two months they meet on a city street,and you think that maybe there is going to be some kind of redemption,but Darcy says to Rachel "I bought him that shirt" and you notice thedry cleaning held over Rachel's shoulder, a few more words are tradedabout how Darcy is truly happy now, and Rachel goes into the arms ofDex.The movie was a rationalization for sleeping with your best friendsfiancé, and forbidden love prevailing. I was very disappointed thismovie, purely on content, acting was pretty good otherwise....

02 May 2012

LOVED THIS MOVIE!!!!

First off let me say I did not know this movie was adapted from a book!! Duh on me I guess.... I absolutely LOVED this movie!! The main characters of Rachel and Dex had great chemistry which makes the movie work. I didn't hate Darcy...I actually liked her. But it was SOOOO easy to see that she was so into herself, that missed what was right before her eyes. I recommended the movie to several friends and they loved it as well! I thought about reading the book...but I don't want to change my perception of this movie!! Great Job!!!

LondonWatcher

01 May 2012

A film for those that like to cheat.

This is an awful film, about a lead character, an absolute tramp, thatbetrays her life long best friend. Predictable attempts are made to make the victim, played by KateHudson, less sympathetic, unfortunately this doesn't work and you canthelp but dislike the Rachel character, played by Goodwin. Thesupporting cast are strong and amusing, but not enough to save thismovie from the skin crawling undertone of the story. I spent the first half of this film annoyed and hoping that the Rachelcharacter may redeem herself and turn around this film. Half waythrough I realised this probably wasn't going to happen, I just wishedI turned this awful film off.If you like cheating, betrayal and horrible leads this film is for you.