Confessions of a Shopaholic Directed by: P.J. Hogan Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas Running Time: 1 hr 45 mins Rating: PG
Plot: Based on the novels by Sophie Kinsella, a journalist (Fisher) lands a job as a financial magazine, even though she is drowning in credit card debt. Her vice is shopping and trying to deal with that may cost her a career and a man (Dancy).
Who’s It For? Those desperate to relive the joy they felt when they read the books. Guys, be warned ... you will be bored.
Expectations: I can like chick flicks, and there is a huge following with the books and I'm a Fisher fan ... but the trailers weren't impressive. I was nervous.
SCORECARD (0-10)
Actors: Isla Fisher as Rebecca Bloomwood: Think Sally Field for a moment ... I like her. I really like her. Wedding Crashers and Defintely, Maybe made me a believer. Plus, Fisher is married to Sacha Baron Cohen. That's good company. This movie and the character crafted are therefore beneath her talents. Score: 3
Hugh Dancy as Luke Brandon: This is the dreamboat ladies, do you enjoy? I can't tell. All I know is he's a good editor after a hard-hitting investigative story (the movie spells that out for me). So because of that reason, I won't give him a 3. Score: 4
Rest of Cast: Kyrsten Ritter is the awkward friend who is fashionably challenged, which doesn't make sense because Rebecca would die (or at least voice an opinion) if her best friend truly dressed like that. As far as the Goodman, Cusack, Scott Thomas, Lithgow punch ... It's a light jab. None of them should be in this film. They don't add to it, except for the oddity of them actually being in this film. Score: 2
Talking: You know that moment where Rebecca sighs with delight as she finds out Brandon "speaks Prada"? Yeah, it's flat. And so is the rest of the script. It doesn't inspire fashion, which should be the entire point of this film ... except for the fact that Rebecca has a true addition which the movie makes light of the whole time. Score: 2
Sights: Does she dress great? Look, I've seen enough "Project Runway" to know Rebecca's fashion sense isn't perfect. And yes, I just confidently admitted to watching "Project Runway." Score:
Sounds: A cover of "I Would Do Anything For Love" starts us off in the right direction, and Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" gets the elevator music treatment in a nice touch. The score is a complete mess though. It almost sounds like it's accidentally warbled. Score: 4
OVERALL
You know when you see a movie on an airplane, and someone asks you what movie you saw during your flight, only you can't remember? That's Confessions of a Shopaholic. I raced home to write my review, only because I knew I would forget. "Sex and the City" talked relationships, with fashion as an ... accessory. This film shows us window dressing and nothing else. Plus, our lead character is just dim, who doesn't seem to EVER think ahead for a second, but continues to have her life turn up rosey.
Rebecca's attempted ascent to Alette magazine is boring. Her addiction is boring. The romance with Brandon is boring. The mannequins that come to imaginary life is ... OK, that's just creepy.
Final Score: 3/10