Confessions of a Stereotypical Chick-Flick.

Grade: C+

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Indian Release Date: 20/03/09
CBFC Classification:  U/A
Running Length: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lynn Redgrave, Robert Stanton
Director: P.J. Hogan
Screenplay: Tracey Jackson and Tim Firth and Kayla Alpert, based on the books Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella
Cinematography: Jo Willems
Music: James Newton Howard

Just what we needed in these times of fatal recession, a reason to laugh at someone else's money problem, when there couldn't have been a reason enough to look in our own wallets.

With watching news flashes about frustrated ex-employees wiping away their whole families because they can't afford to feed them, to watching Rebecca (Isla Fisher) swiping away all of her twelve credit cards because she can't afford cash, is a refreshing change of perspective. And although not entirely satirical, the movie does make you wonder about the enormity of the debt situation across the globe.

Rebecca Bloomwood is a journalist who can talk to store window mannequins, has an unsatisfying itch for shopping and a closet full of debts. Things take a turn for the worse when, her company is sold off and she has no source of income left to support herself or clear the debts she has incurred. This marks the entry of the superhero of debt collection - Derek Smeath (Robert Stanton) (Haven't we all met one at some point in our lives?)

Rebecca's continuous urge to shop lands her in an unexpected new job (ironically with a savings magazine!!) and a new green scarf which she can't afford but must have. Her adorably cute boss, Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy), impressed with her work gives her a column to write as 'The girl in the green scarf'. Armed with a job to satisfy her urge and some more, Rebecca must do everything to keep it. This leads to a spiraling vortex of lies she creates to prevent her boss (at the 'savings' magazine) to know about her debt problems. She has a loyal and concerned friend in Suze (Krysten Ritter) who helps her evade the debt collector and get over her shopping issues. Rebecca even participates in the Shopaholic Anonymous.

The movie is a pure chick-flick at heart, so no matter how hard it may push a message it can only be pushed so far and is then left void. It’s not very inspiring as it may portray, but is does very well reflect the current situation amongst people in debt and their shopping dilemma. It has it's 'aaww' moments and a few laughs.

Isla Fisher does a fairly good job at playing the girl stuck in the vicious circle of credit cards. There are times in the movie you genuinely feel sorry for her shallow personality and people she hurts in the process. Hugh Dancy can play cute and has nothing else offer. Everybody else is about average and nothing more including Robert Stanton & Krysten Ritter.

The movie is shot well and can be really pretty in places. The conversations with the alluring mannequins are also well done and really funny. The music is really good and something I'll be shopping for.

Final Verdict: The movie is worth one watch by fairer sex who enjoy the 'independent-damsel-in-distress-but-can-salvage-herself' kind flicks, the rest can wait for a DVD release or just skip.

Grade: C+

 

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