Spend! Spend! Spend! (Confessions of a Shopaholic (DVD))

Member Name: kingfisher111

Product:	Confessions of a Shopaholic (DVD)
Date:	31/03/09 (376 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: ,light easy viewing, funny

Disadvantages: none

Last night saw me at the cinema with some friends watching 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' which as it's not yet out on DVD I will be reviewing as a 'film only'. It's a very light hearted but enjoyable film based on the book by Sophie Kinsella. I suppose that as that book would be classed as chick lit this film would have to be classed as 'chick movie' if there is such a term! It's definitely not a film for the boys and I was very gad that I had not taken my husband to see it as I know that he would have hated it! For a girls' night out though, it's probably a very good option.

The film tells the story of a young woman named Rebecca Bloomwood who loves to spend. She cannot walk past a sale without being drawn in and spending copious amounts of money. She has a particular love of items sporting labels such as Gucci and Prada but can never understand why each time she receives a credit card bill that it is so high! Unsurprisingly she is running up huge debts amounting to thousands and thousands of dollars which she cannot pay especially when she loses her journalist job.

It is quite ironic then that the new job that she somehow manages to acquire is again as a journalist but this time writing about financial matters. She becomes 'the girl in the green scarf' who fast becomes every ordinary person's hero due to her down to earth advice about money! It's no wonder that she feels like a fraud and through most of the film spends a great deal of energy trying not to be exposed. This is particularly difficult as she is being pursued by a very geeky debt collector, Derek Smeath, who will just not give up! As you can imagine, much mayhem ensues leading to a very funny film. Having said that though, I found it quite thought provoking too and even quite moving.

Rebecca is played by Isla Fisher. I don't remember seeing her in anything else but I thought she was just right for this somewhat dizzy role. Rebecca's boss, and possible love interest, at the financial magazine is Luke Brandon played by Hugh Dancy. He is an actor that I like having previously enjoyed his role in The Jane Austen Book Club. The role he plays in this film though is a typical Hugh Grant role and I could not help but see similarities between the two actors as I was watching.

There are a host of other minor characters who all add to the interest and enjoyment of the film. Rebecca's parents (played by Joan Cusak and John Goodman) are a lot of fun particularly as they have opted for an unconventional and unfashionable lifestyle which is so different from their daughters. Rebecca also joins Shopaholics Anonymous at one point and you see a really eclectic collection of characters all with a love of shopping. Some of the moments at this self help group provide the best comedy within the film. My favourite character has to be Derek Smeath though. He is played by Robert Smeath and with his greasy hair, thick rimmed glasses and old mac epitomises everything you might expect from a debt collector. If nothing else, this film is worth watching just for his performance!

Although it's a light and airy film it does have a lot of very funny moments. I found myself laughing out loud at much of the film. I particularly liked it when Rebecca was walking past all her favourite stores and the mannequins in the windows were talking to her trying to be very persuasive - almost like a conscience alley!

You would have to admit that there is a slightly serious message as well even though it is well wrapped up in humour. It really does question why people spend so much in this extremely materialistic world we live in. Rebecca thinks that shopping makes her happy but does it really? Also it demonstrates how easy it is to spend money you just don't have through the use of credit cards. Hopefully it might make a few people think about their own spending habits before they get out of hand like Rebecca's!

There is also the hint of romance in this film too. You never really know whether Rebecca and Luke might get it together but there is definitely a certain chemistry between them which is enjoyable to watch.

Another element of the film I really enjoyed was the relationship between Rebecca and her best friend Suze (Krysten Ritter). Suze despairs of Rebecca and does everything she can to curb her friend's spending. However, that friendship is severely tested especially when Rebecca does something unforgivable in the run up to Suze's wedding! What? Well you'll have to watch to find out!

I really did enjoy watching Confessions of a Shopaholic and much more than I expected to. I wasn't sure at the beginning as it did come over as a little bit too and light for my liking but as I watched it did develop into a very enjoyable and entertaining film. I think it's well worth watching but you'll have to be quick as I think it will be coming to the end of its cinema runs soon. I'm sure it won't be long until the DVD is out though!

Summary: A great film to watch with the girls!