Google the 2011 film One thing Borrowed, and also you may see a abstract that reads: “A romantic comedy a couple of candy New York lady who should select between love and friendship.” Like many issues on the web, this description is overrated and inaccurate… largely as a result of this film is not about love or friendship, neither is anybody categorically candy. It is a film about assholes — enticing and wealthy assholes who hang around with different enticing and wealthy assholes and who make asshole selections.
Very first thing’s first: The film, which relies on the ebook of the identical title by Emily Giffin, focuses on Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin), a single lawyer, who, after one drink too many at her thirtieth celebration, falls into mattress along with her longtime crush, Dex (Colin Egglesfield), who occurs to be engaged to her greatest pal, Darcy (Kate Hudson). Nevertheless, there’s extra to this one-night stand.
Rachel and Dex even have emotions for one another, threatening to destroy the ladies’s lifelong friendship. Then there’s Rachel’s and Darcy’s childhood pal, Ethan (John Krasinski), who harbors his personal crush on Rachel — to not point out some hardcore resentment in the direction of Darcy.
So, there’s lots happening on this film, and most of it is not nice. But I nonetheless discover myself watching One thing Borrowed each time I would like to curve up in a ball on the sofa and veg out and never take into consideration the opposite issues in my life, like possibly IRL assholes I could be coping with.
Maybe it is the innate attraction of the solid who, regardless of their vapid and annoying characters, manages to make the characters digestible and add some humor to a script that’s bland and somewhat bit in all places in the case of tone. Is that this a rom-com or a tacky drama with some cornball moments (like a dance interlude to Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It”) thrown in for good measure? Who is aware of? Who cares! The film is forgettable sufficient to not waste time quibbling over such issues.
However for these aware of the comedy (and I exploit that time period loosely), listed below are my ideas on these characters and their over-the-top quadrangle greater than a decade after the film’s launch.
Rachel
We’re purported to assume Rachel is the cutest and sweetest factor as a result of she’s performed by Goodwin, however let’s not neglect she’s additionally the most important doormat. And doormats are at all times recipes for being a real catastrophe.
With regards to her friendship with Darcy, Rachel has allowed her pal (who I can solely assume is a Leo) to steamroll her for many years, inflicting her to position herself secondary in each state of affairs she finds herself in with Darcy — together with encouraging Dex so far Darcy. Rachel has at all times liked Dex, however as a result of she would not actually love herself (to not go too psycho-analytical right here, however I think about she should have some critical shallowness points to proceed a poisonous friendship with somebody as self-absorbed as Darcy), she would not specific her emotions to him.
That’s till she will get good and drunk, and even then, Rachel desires to place Darcy first. At this level, sure, Darcy and Dex are engaged, however nearly every part out of Rachel’s mouth is about Darcy and what she is going to assume/really feel/do, and so on. Not as soon as does Rachel put her personal wants first and even specific her wants and even what she desires, making her really feel not simply blah but additionally somewhat sus. How will you belief somebody who would not know what they need?
I do know we’re purported to assume Rachel is that this unbelievable pal who would by no means double-cross her pal, however it all strikes me as somewhat cloying and, actually, pathetic. Additionally, I do not purchase that Rachel is that candy. She continues to cover her tryst from her supposed greatest pal, by no means fessing as much as what occurred or taking accountability, and even goes behind Darcy’s again and sleeps with Dex a second time! Rachel solely confesses as a result of Darcy figures out what occurred between her and Dex and confronts her about it.
Due to Darcy’s overt narcissism, I believe we had been purported to forgive or overlook Rachel’s flaws — however I actually did not. Mendacity to your greatest pal and dishonest along with her fiance is not a superb look, even for those who did love him first. So, sure, I believe Rachel’s an asshole.
Dex
Only one take a look at this man, and you recognize he is an asshole. He is so good-looking he might go as a younger Tom Cruise in his TAPS days, however that does not make him an asshole. He is an asshole as a result of he lacks integrity.
He would not go after the lady he desires after which proceeds so far and suggest to a lady he would not love. Proper from the beginning, you possibly can inform Dex simply places up with Darcy the best way males do after they store with their girlfriends. They do not need to be there, however they really feel like they “should be” to be a “good” man, so that they’ll sit on a garden chair in Goal and play Wordle. Yuck. It is being a phony baloney to the tee, and Dex is sweet at it, particularly sporting pastel polo shirts and white shorts.
Does he even like sporting these garments? I imply, he would not even like his profession as an lawyer! However he continues to apply legislation and preserve his engagement to Darcy — regardless of his emotions for Rachel — as a result of why? Some form of bizarre obligation to his sick mom? As a result of she is going to get sicker if he finds true happiness? Clarify that one to me.
Both manner, Dex is a coward and would not reside his reality, so I assume you possibly can’t be completely stunned that he cheats on his fiancee. Twice. He offers Rachel false hope that he’ll select her and would not, sends her flowers after embarrassing her, and chooses Darcy once more. Then he breaks up with Darcy on the day of their wedding ceremony?! This man’s emotionally manipulative, confused, and, sure, an asshole.
Ethan
The caustic and sarcastic remarks, to not point out his bizarre hate for Darcy, is sufficient to classify Ethan as a jerk. Somebody ought to’ve informed John Krasinski this is not The Workplace — you possibly can’t pull that Jim stuff with out Dwight or Pam round, sorry.
If that wasn’t annoying sufficient, his therapy of Claire (Ashley Johnson, who, by the best way, I believe is the funniest particular person within the solid) after their one-night stand is so cringe; I do not care how a lot he cares about Rachel, it makes me marvel if Ethan even is aware of find out how to care about anybody besides himself.
Darcy
So it is very easy to name Darcy an asshole as a result of she’s the obvious one out of the bunch. She’s loud, brash, egocentric, and self-absorbed. Every little thing is about Darcy, and everybody is aware of this, together with Darcy. She makes Rachel’s thirtieth celebration all about her, she cheats on Dex, she makes enjoyable of Ethan.
However this is the factor: At the very least Darcy owns the truth that she’s an asshole. Do I believe she would classify herself as one? Probably not. However she is aware of who she is, she owns who she is, and he or she would not apologize for it, and that is greater than I can say for the remainder of ’em. If there’s anybody I need to succeed extra, it is Darcy. And if we had gotten that sequel we had been promised, I’d’ve liked to see it.