‘Borrowed’ f luffy, forgettable

Fri., May 6, 2011

Christy Lemire Associated Press

“Something Borrowed” poses the question: What happens when you realize you’re in love with your best friend’s fiancé?

But the characters are either so ill-defined or unlikable, it’s hard to care whether they get out of this tricky situation with their emotions and relationships intact.

That’s unfortunate, because “Something Borrowed” stars the ordinarily adorable Ginnifer Goodwin.

Directed by Luke Greenfield (“The Girl Next Door”) and based on the novel by Emily Giffin, “Something Borrowed” introduces us to Goodwin’s character, New York attorney Rachel, on the night of her 30th birthday.

She’s quietly freaking out about the passage of time because she’s still hopelessly single. Meanwhile, her closest pal since childhood, the blond party girl Darcy (Kate Hudson), is about to marry Dex (Colin Egglesfield), Rachel’s good friend from law school.

Rachel introduced them and encouraged them to get together, even though she was secretly in love with Dex. After a few drinks at her surprise party, she and Dex end up sleeping together – and that inspires them to revisit feelings they’d both suppressed.

Clearly, they’re meant for each other, but each feels a responsibility toward Darcy – which makes no sense, because Darcy only feels a responsibility toward herself.

As Hudson plays her, she is rampantly narcissistic; it’s hard to figure out what she does besides drink and shop.

It’s also obvious that Dex’s old-money parents would be happier with the sweet and proper Rachel rather than the flamboyant and obnoxious Darcy.

The majority of “Something Borrowed” features Rachel and Dex hemming and hawing over how to handle their burgeoning relationship, as the big day draws ever closer.

John Krasinski (“The Office”) co-stars as Rachel and Darcy’s childhood friend, Ethan, who mainly exists for cutaway reaction shots and sarcastic remarks.

Many melodramatic revelations come to light in the film’s third act, then they’re just as quickly resolved.

But you’ll probably have checked out, mentally and emotionally, long before any of this anyway.

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