‘Something Borrowed’ a quintessential rom-com

“Something Borrowed”

Director: Luke Greenfield

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate… “Something Borrowed”

Director: Luke Greenfield

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, John Krasinski and Colin Egglesfield

Grade: B+

Of the irritating entities and concepts that plague our popular culture, romantic comedies and adapted screenplays make the very top of the list.

Yet Luke Greenfield’s adaptation of Emily Giffin’s New York Times best-selling novel, “Something Borrowed,” is neither annoying nor disloyal to the book. The film tells the story of two lifelong friends, Darcy and Rachel — the latter of whom has an affair with the former’s fiance. Chaos ensues and ultimately, Rachel is presented with a choice that could negatively affect her friendship as well as her relationship with Darcy’s fiance, Dex.

Typically, this is the part where I would tell you the screenplay was awful, the casting was ill-advised and the actors should have “borrowed something” from their more-talented peers. But here, there are few such criticisms. With a few glitches here or there, “Something Borrowed” is an ejoyable flick..

The film drew plenty of strength from its cast. Ginnifer Goodwin (Rachel) and Kate Hudson (Darcy) seem to jump directly off the pages of “Something Borrowed.” For those who have read the book, the characters you imagined while reading are probably eerily similar to those who appear on screen.

Furthermore, the film doesn’t fit the formula of a typical romantic comedy — or anything Hudson usually appears in. All of the necessary ingredients are there: a love story, a betrayal or two, a couple professions of undying love and, of course, a passive friend and her aggressive counterpart.

But “Something Borrowed” is among the rare breed of rom-coms that though targeted at women, might not be totally unbearable for men.. The writing is incredibly witty and engages filmgoers from beginning to end with John Krasinski’s one-liners as Ethan — Rachel’s friend — and Goodwin’s endearing naivety. Although the humor is typical of romantic comedies and the circumstances are predictable, the film’s screenplay and clever adaptation is forgiving of these conventions.

The one aspect in which the film is lacking seems to be its leading man, Colin Egglesfield. Although he’s a main character, the movie seems to happen around him rather than with him in an active role.

His acting also leaves something to be desired. There are several moments in the film during which Egglesfield can’t seem to emotionally engage. The result is a tired and corny representation of the oblivious leading man. There might be a reason the gorgeous Egglesfield is pushing 40 and just now being cast as a leading man — his acting is subpar.

The writing is clever, the casting is spot-on, but no matter how much praise “Something Borrowed” receives, it’s still a chick flick. Unsuspecting boyfriends beware, your girlfriends probably have plans for you this weekend.