Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

A college grad lands a job as a financial journalist in New York City to support where she nurtures her shopping addiction and falls for a wealthy entrepreneur.

Director:

P.J. Hogan

Writers:

Tracey Jackson (screenplay), Tim Firth (screenplay)

Stars:

Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isla Fisher	...	Rebecca Bloomwood
Hugh Dancy	...	Luke Brandon
Krysten Ritter	...	Suze
Joan Cusack	...	Jane Bloomwood
John Goodman	...	Graham Bloomwood
John Lithgow	...	Edgar West
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Alette Naylor
Fred Armisen	...	Ryan Koenig
Leslie Bibb	...	Alicia Billington
Lynn Redgrave	...	Drunken Lady at Ball
Robert Stanton	...	Derek Smeath
Julie Hagerty	...	Hayley
Nick Cornish	...	Tarquin
Wendie Malick	...	Miss Korch
Clea Lewis	...	Miss Ptaszinski

Storyline

Struggling with her debilitating obsession with shopping and the sudden collapse of her income source, Rebecca Bloomwood unintentionally lands a job writing for a financial magazine after a drunken letter-mailing mix-up. Ironically writing about the very consumer caution of which she herself has not abided, Rebecca's innovative comparisons and unconventional metaphors for economics grants her critical acclaim, public success, and the admiration of her supportive boss Luke. But as she draws closer to her ultimate goal of writing for renowned fashion magazine Alette, she questions her true ambitions and must determine if overcoming her "shopaholic" condition will bring her real happiness.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | magazine | debt | shopping | journalist | 

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Taglines:

From the best-selling novel.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild language and thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Finnish Spanish French

Release Date:

13 February 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Loca por las compras

Filming Locations:

Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,066,360, 15 February 2009

Gross USA:

$44,277,350

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$108,333,222

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Isla Fisher wore five-inch stilettos during filming.

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Goofs

At the Successful Savings office, Luke says he wants Rebecca to go to the "APA conference." Rebecca asks Hayley what the APA conference is. The camera moves to Luke. When it moves back to Rebecca, Hayley is gone.

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Quotes

Rebecca Bloomwood: [to her potential employer] I can do affordable fashion. I mean, I know where all the sales are.
Jane Bloomwood: Yes, she does. Oh, in fact she got that from me.
Rebecca Bloomwood: [laughing hysterically] No, I didn't. I didn't. I didn't, I didn't, I didn't.

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Connections

References Batman (1966)

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Soundtracks

Coconut
Written by Harry Nilsson

User Reviews

Silly treatment of a serious addict

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a silly comedy about a serious addict. In this case, the addict is Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher), who gets a near-sexual thrill out of the act of buying clothes. She is so addicted to shopping that when she passes a store window, the mannequins actually speak to her, giving her sales pitches.

If this were an independent film - or a film made in France - the movie would end with her destitute and living on the street. It is not, this is a Hollywood romantic comedy, which means that Rebecca's serious addiction will lead to a great job at a magazine, comic mishaps and a romance with a cute guy. It also wants us to believe the impossible. For example, the irony that she is the daughter of blue collar extremely understanding parents (John Goodman and Joan Cusack) who have saved every penny they ever earned.

You can't buy the plot for one solitary moment, but you find yourself drawn into this hapless comedy by its one redeeming element: The performance of Isla Fisher. She was the little firecracker who fell for Vince Vaughn in The Wedding Crashers and she retains some of that crazy spark here. She has a manic way of diving into a situation with near-violent determination as when she goes to 50% off sale and comes to blows with another shopaholic over a pair of boots.

Fisher bears a strange resemblance to Amy Adams. She's not nearly as sharp as Adams, but she is no less charming. The preposterous plot is spurred by her infectious charm. She has a lovable face, framed by a beautiful mane of light brown hair, and skin like porcelain. She has wide-eyes that sparkle when she is happy and grow dark when she is sad. The film's art direction by Kristie Zea (who worked on The Silence of the Lambs) does Fisher a lot of favors. Everything is decorated like a store display, brightly lit with lots of bold colors. It brings out Fisher's eyes and her beautiful hair. It also speaks to the rapture of Rebecca's charge-card world.

I just wish that she were in a better movie. There isn't a single moment of originality or creativity. It follows Rebecca's attempts to make her way through a job writing a column in which she tries to help people organize their money. The irony, of course, is that she's so bad money that a debt collector is stalking her like a bounty hunter. Oh-Ho! I wish it were possible to recommend a fun performance in a movie that is tired and ordinary, but I just can't do that. All I can say is that if you do take the plunge, focus your attentions on Fisher's bright, charming face. Do that, and then try to imagine a better movie for her - maybe one where she gets some serious help for her addiction.

• Jerry Roberts **1/2 (of four)