Confessions of a Shopaholic
Although it often attacks capitalism and overconsumption in our societies, “Confessions of a Shopaholic” is more like “Bratz” by advocating credit cards and superficiality. Those are some themes that socially harmful pink water romance cannot save.
Rebecca (Isla Fisher) is an impulsive coat, bags and boots consumer. Fashion has no secret for her and her most expected acquisitions are always at the expense of her credit card. To pay her debts, the journalist seems unaware of the fourth power comes to be hired by a prestigious magazine that promotes the economy and the savings! And she even seduces the boss who only thinks about work! Nothing is too good when the joy of buying is the maxim of life.
The differences are obvious between good ideas and the final result. On paper, “Confessions of a Shopaholic” could be this little cynical and romantic film as there is too little. The scenario is based on popular books by Sophie Kinsella and is directed by PJ Hogan, a filmmaker who in the past offered the very successful “Muriel’s Wedding” and the huge success of “My Best Friend Wedding”.
The film processing is not up to snuff. Good ideas from the premise are quickly evacuated to make some place for the most distressing moral. Instead of criticizing the mass society, the story almost encourages people to spend, pointing out that this passage is not always good, but that means improbable can always pull them out of trouble. And what else! Especially in times of economic crisis…
If at least staging Hogan was at the height. It has more test as smooth a women’s magazine, with a faded photograph, a lazy use of the City of New York and a soundtrack for dancing only to tweenie. Everything is available in a coating that has soaked too long in a particularly sticky syrup.
The main quality – or failure – of the company is the presence of Isla Fisher. The actress, discovered in the too failed “The Lookout” and the very overestimated “Definitely, Maybe”, takes a lot of space. His narration is intrusive, just like his personality: she is a spoiled child. That is part of its charm and it is this exuberance that can make more than a rag. Her sparkling smile and her way of getting out of trouble, however, give a little nice momentum to situations with a very limited value. Without it, humor would not be working and the romance would be almost nonexistent.
This does not make “Confessions of a Shopaholic” a better film for it. At first glance, the story is very promising and met an almost dreaming cast (which includes the generally excellent John Goodman, Joan Cusack, Lynn Redgrave, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas). These beautiful people deflate fairly quickly to treatment and incredibly superficial characters for single use. Isla Fisher remains the one who deserved a much better movie to play in.
Rating: 2/5
Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Fred Armisen
Directed By: P.J. Hogan
Movie Stills
Posted on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 7:58 pm