Underwear is a basic human right! (Confessions of a Shopaholic (DVD))

Member Name: ld75454

Product:	Confessions of a Shopaholic (DVD)
Date:	06/03/09 (1384 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Isla Fisher, humour throughout

Disadvantages: Mannequins = pointless

*Introduction*

I collected the book from the library last week and have started to read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella after seeing that the film was out at the cinema. My friend called me Monday evening asking if I fancied going to the cinema. We narrowed the film choice down to He's Just Not That Into You or Confessions of a Shopaholic? We decided to go and watch the latter simply because of the time. I am so pleased that we watched this as it was definitely my type of film.

*A Brief Summary of the Plot*

Rebecca Bloomwood is a 25 year old journalist living in New York with Suze, her best friend. Rebecca has an addiction to shopping and is lured into shops very easily. The drawback is that she unable to pay for all of her purchases and has found herself in a great deal of debt. When she loses her job at a gardening magazine, she applies for a job at Successful Savings, a finance magazine. She sees this as a stepping stone to her dream job at Alette magazine. When putting her mind to it, Rebecca's writing is unique and she creates a persona 'the girl with the green scarf' to write under.

Watch the film to see how Rebecca attempts to cut back and make money in an attempt to pay off her mounting credit card bills.

*Key Characters/Cast and My Thoughts of Them*

Rebecca Bloomwood (played by Isla Fisher)
Rebecca is the main character of the film. I find the character of Rebecca to be very engaging and she is extremely likable. She is a jovial journalist who wears beautiful, colourful clothing and shoes throughout the film. Rebecca finds her self in numerous amusing situations and you find yourself laughing out loud at her.

I thought that Isla Fisher was the perfect casting for the character of Rebecca. I believe that she make the film a success. She is girly and you believe that she could spend, spend and spend. A brilliant comedy actress and somebody I think we'll be seeing a lot more on our screens.

Luke Brandon (played by Hugh Dancy)
Luke is the editor of the finance magazine Successful Savings. His background is very privileged but he has decided that he wants to make it on his own. It is Luke that loans Rebecca money to buy the renowned green scarf. I fell head over heels in lust with Hugh Dancy. That is because he is gorgeous and had a great rapport with Isla on screen.

Suze (played by Krysten Ritter)
Suze is Rebecca's wealthy and quirky best friend whom she lives with. She comes across as a little nutty with her random taste in clothing. Fashion mad like Rebecca she is not and this is evident when you see the dresses that she selects for her bridesmaids. She and Rebecca are extremely close and you can see this by her refusal in accepting rent money from her friend. Continuously throughout the film, Suze attempts to curb Rebecca's spending but fails miserably.

Jane Bloomwood (played by Joan Cusack)
Joan is very believable in the role of Rebecca's stingy mother. Jane Bloomwood is extremely peculiar and always has her eye on a bargain. She is oblivious to the debt problems that her daughter is encountering.

Graham Bloomwood (played by John Goodman)
Graham is Rebecca's endearing father. He, like Rebecca's mother, likes to spend little and save his money. Also like Jane, he is unaware of the financial difficulties Rebecca has found herself in and is willing to sacrifice what he has saved his life for to pay off her debts (aw!).

Alette Naylor (played by Kristin Scott Thomas)
Alette is the editor of Alette, the ultimate fashion magazine and the one that Rebecca desires to work for. She is exactly the type of person that I would expect a fashion editor to be like, albeit with a strange accent.

Derek Smeath (played by Robert Stanton)
Derek is a debt collector working for Endwich Bank who is on Rebecca's back throughout the film. Her excuses to avoid his pursuit of the money she owes provides a great deal of entertainment.

*My Opinion*

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a film that is based on the Shopaholic series by author Sophie Kinsella. I collected the book from the library last week and am only at chapter nine in the book. I have already realised that they are extremely different when it comes to the plot, mainly the fact that it is not based in the UK but New York.

The plot is easy to follow so concentration isn't necessary. The main storyline follows Rebecca's efforts to rid herself of her debt but there is a side story of romance. She falls for the handsome Luke Brandon and I love watching their relationship blossom throughout.

I love in the film that her column (the girl with the green scarf) is extremely successful. Despite being a failure with her own money and finances, she is able to write about it in a way that is applicable to real life and easy to understand.

The clothes, shoes and accessories throughout the film are amazing. I would love to have been her, parading around in the outfits that she was able to.

I don't believe that there was a particular message to be taken from this film, but I certainly came out thinking that maybe I don't need all of the things that I buy. I think there are a lot of people in the current economic crisis that can associate to the problems that Rebecca encounters. I somehow doubt that they will be dealt with in the same way though. I won't be falling into the same trap as Rebecca!

Don't get me wrong, this film isn't going to win any awards. But I thought it was frivolous fun and a great watch. Isla Fisher is very funny. I found myself thinking, I do that at a number of the things that she did, although at a much less extreme.

My least favourite part of the film was the mannequins 'coming to life' so to speak. I found this a bit silly but it certainly didn't spoil the movie at all. It just wasn't something that I particularly liked and didn't think that it added anything.

I personally think this is film is targeted towards the girls out there. My boyfriend would kill me if I tried to make him watch this, so girls, go with your friend not your man!

*Would I Recommend The Film?*

I definitely recommend Confessions of a Shopaholic. I enjoyed it from start to finish. I suggest watching it if you enjoy reading light-hearted chic lit.

If you like/liked this film then I would recommend watching:
- Legally Blonde
- Bridget Jones Diary
- 27 Dresses

*Technical Details*

Run Time: 104 minutes
Certificate: PG
Director: P.J Hogan
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
UK Release Date: February 20th, 2009

*Overall*

I totally loved this film. I felt that Isla Fisher made it as superb as it was. It may have been predictable but that is the beauty of it. Shopping is something that I love but somehow I don't think that I will find myself falling into the same trap as Rebecca. I will be rushing out to buy it when it is out on DVD. I think it could be my new pick me up film.

Summary: Isla Fisher is the comedy queen in this chic flick.