Jun 26 2009
Confessions of a Shopaholic: Signs of Our Times
I thought that this movie review would be timely, if not ironic, given the current situation of our economy. Confessions of a Shopaholic (now available on Blu-ray and DVD) pokes fun at the distress that we as a society are experiencing as a result of the economic turmoil brought about by greedy individuals who don’t know an over-sized bonus when they see one. Before you think that this might be another Enron documentary, let me put everything in perspective.
After Rebecca Bloomwood (played by Isla Fisher) learns that her dream job at the fashion mag, Alette, had been filled, she follows an insider’s tip and interviews for a writing gig with Smart Savings, a financial magazine whose office is in the same building. According to the tipster, Smart Savings would be her stepping stone to Alette. Now, you might disagree with me, but I wouldn’t be caught dead taking financial advice from a shopaholic in denial. Well, as luck would have it, Rebecca lands the job, and this employment mismatch drives the plot of the movie. Ah, the irony of it all!
At times, the plot can be a bit predictable. But how could you have a shopaholics movie without the obligatory Shopaholics Anonymous meetings? Fortunately, the scenes were a quirky and funny take on other Something - Anonymous intervention plans that could be contrastingly somber.
Fisher was a good fit for this part - a far cry from her Wedding Crashers days, but less serious than her character in Definitely, Maybe. I loved the unexpected, yet sensible casting of Joan Cusack and John Goodman as her parents. Their scene with Kristin Scott Thomas who plays Alette Naylor was absolutely hysterical.
If it’s Oscar material that you’re looking for this might not be the movie for you. Oscar worthy - no. Feel good - yes… especially if you can relate to Rebecca. When was the last time you bought something on an impulse and regretted it afterwards; and even worse, you catch yourself doing this again… and again… and again?
“When I shop, the world gets better, the world is better; and then it’s not anymore and I have to do it again”. Sounds familiar? Take my advice, it might be more cost-effective if you rent the movie from a Redbox ($1 per night), and learn something from it. If anything else, we can always live vicariously through the Confessions of a Shopaholic.
