Confessions of a Shopaholic Synopsis: Like many New York City gals, Rebecca Bloomwood loves to shop. The trouble is, she shops so much that she is drowning in debt.
Based on the book with the same title, Confessions of a Shopaholic introduces us to Becky Bloomwood, a journalist who dreams of working for Alette, a popular fashion magazine. She also has a shopping addiction and finds herself thousands of dollars in debt while dodging the calls of Derek Smeath, an aggressive debt collector.
After the gardening magazine she works for goes under, Becky inadvertently impresses the editor of Successful Savings magazine, which is owned by the same conglomerate that owns Alette. She takes the job at Successful Savings as a stepping stone, with the plan to eventually work her way into working for Alette.
The biggest thing that Confessions of a Shopaholic has going for it is Isla Fisher. She’s perfectly cast as Becky, a character that might have come across as insensitive and obnoxious in the hands of another actress. Fisher balances that flightiness with incredible charm and likability. In my opinion, Fisher is a highly underrated comedic actress. She and Hugh Dancy, who plays her editor, Luke Brandon, also have great chemistry. The movie doesn’t revolve solely around their romance, but it adds a spark to Becky’s journey.
I also really enjoyed her scenes with Krysten Ritter, who plays Becky’s best friend, Suze. Joan Cusack and John Goodman play Becky’s parents. Could it get any better than that?
Kristin Scott Thomas and Leslie Bibb play Alette Naylor and Alicia Billington from Alette magazine. They’re both snooty, which is to be expected, and Alicia plays Becky’s foil, a rival for Luke’s affections and Alette’s approval. Bibb does her best with the role, but there’s no depth to Alicia, and Luke and Becky’s blossoming romance is never really in jeopardy here.
Confessions of a Shopaholic is full of over-the-top, ridiculous moments, including an all-out brawl between Becky and another shopper at a warehouse sale, but it fits with the movie’s overall tone. The shenanigans are silly but fun, and I did find myself laughing out loud quite a few times. While it never tries to take itself too seriously, it does touch upon addiction and why some people can’t help that impulsive nature to make themselves feel better, even if that joy is only temporary.
I own Sophie Kinsella’s book, on which this movie is based, but admittedly, I’ve never read it. I know several books are in the Shopaholic series, and it’s a shame they never brought them to the big screen. I would have enjoyed seeing more of Becky Bloomwood’s life journey. Confessions of a Shopaholic is just a colorful, mindlessly entertaining movie perfect for a cozy afternoon or evening when you need something sugary and light-hearted to take your mind off everything else.
Watched: 01/14/2021
Notable Song: Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani
