Confessions of a Shopaholic Review
by Steve Rhodes (steve DOT rhodes AT internetreviews DOT com)February 12th, 2009
CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2009 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
What a delightful surprise! CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is as wonderfully silly and charming as it is absolutely hilarious. If you loved LEGALLY BLONDE, as I did, then CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is definitely the movie for you.
Consistently hitting every one of her comedic marks, Isla Fisher (WEDDING CRASHERS) plays Rebecca "Becky" Bloomwood, a lovable and endearing character with just one flaw, she can't stop shopping. Like an alcoholic who hears beer bottles beckoning from every liquor store, Becky has department store mannequins calling out to her from every shop window. This is shown quite literally, as mannequins come to life with motions that appear like animated dummies rather than humans trying to act like mannequins. It's all done very cleverly. In fact, you'll spend the whole time smiling profusely and laughing often while watching the movie.
While growing up, Becky was in a constant state of awe of grown women and their "magic cards." With their slender pieces of plastic, they were able to adorn their equally slender bodies with colorful and outrageously expensive designer clothes. Now a journalist, Becky has only three wishes. She wants to work for Alette, "the" magazine for high fashion, she wants to avoid Derek Smeath (Robert Stanton), the collection agent hired by her credit card company, and she, of course, wants (read "needs") to continue buying all of the latest fashions.
Becky's roommate, Suze (Krysten Ritter, "Veronica Mars"), is about to get married, but the red-headed Becky is as attractive as she is unsuccessful with men. "If a man doesn't fit, you can't exchange him ten days later," she says, explaining why shopping is so much easier for her than dating.
With her credit cards being declined everywhere, Becky desperately needs a new and better paying job. Her ditzy behavior works to her advantage, causing her accidently to get the most unlikely job possible for her, one at a money magazine. Her new boss, Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy, ELLA ENCHANTED), a handsome hunk if there ever was one, decides to give her a byline of the "Girl with the Green Scarf." Actually, this comes about because Becky doesn't want to use her real name with a debt collector in hot pursuit. Her column isn't like most financial articles, since her advice includes homilies such as, "Risky investments are like a pair of platform boots."
The movie is filled with cameos that work. Kristin Scott Thomas (I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG), for example, is perfect as Alette Naylor, the snotty editor of Alette. In a typical scene, Alette has Becky's mother (Joan Cusack) slice her a piece of cake so thin that it looks like a piece of writing paper.
As a lovable motormouth, Fisher is also quite adept with the physical comedy aspects of her role. She makes pratfalls look as natural as they are funny. Don't try to fight the ever-resourceful Becky at a designer fashion sale, or you will lose. When she sees fancy shoes that she wants, people would be well advised not to get in her way. Even regular attendance at shopaholics' support groups isn't enough to treat her addiction for long.
Don't resist the urge to shop for a ticket to CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC. It'll be one purchase you won't regret.
CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC runs a fast 1:44. It is rated PG for "some mild language and thematic elements" and would be acceptable for all ages.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, February 13, 2009. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Cinemark theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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