Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD Review

Confessions of a Shopaholic - A Touchstone Pictures Release

On DVD: June 23rd, 2009

Rated PG language may offend, not recommended for young children

Running time: 105 minutes

P.J. Hogan (dir.)

Tracey Jackson (screenplay)

Tim Firth (screenplay)

Kayla Alpert (screenplay)

Sophie Kinsella (novel)

James Newton Howard (music)

Isla Fisher as Rebecca Bloomwood

Hugh Dancy as Luke Brandon

Krysten Ritter as Suze

Joan Cusack as Jane Bloomwood

John Goodman as Graham Bloomwood

John Lithgow as Edgar West

Kristin Scott Thomas as Alette Naylor

Leslie Bibb as Alicia Billington

Robert Stanton as Derek Smeath

Special Features: deleted scenes, bloopers, a music video titled “Stuck with Each Other”, by Shontelle featuring Akon, plus a digital copy of the film.

Hugh Dancy and Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic - © WDSHE. All Rights Reserved

Our reviews below:

_____________________________________________

Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD Review By John C.

**1/2 (out of 4)

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a mildly enjoyable, but predictable, romantic-comedy. It’s the story of Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher), who’s a shopaholic. Any chance she has to go shopping, she takes and ultimately ends up thousands of dollars in debt. Along the way she accidentally ends up with a job at a magazine called Successful Saving, falls in love with her boss (Hugh Dancy), and learns lessons about what’s really important in her life.

The film is based on a series of books by Sophie Kinsella. All the actors do fine jobs of bringing their characters to life. It should be interesting to see Hugh Dancy, who plays Luke, as Adam in the upcoming film about a man with Asperger’s syndrome. The film is better than I expected it to be, and will probably be enjoyed quite a bit by it’s target audience.

The DVD includes four deleted scenes that were cut for obvious reasons, a not very funny blooper reel, a music video by Shontelle (featuring Akon) titled “Stuck with Each Other”, and a digital copy of the film, in case you feel a need to watch the film on you iPod. The Blu-Ray includes all these special features, and more.

_____________________________________________

Confessions of Shopaholic DVD Review By Erin V.

**3/4 (out of 4)

Confessions of a Shopaholic is based on the series of books of the same name by Sophie Kinsella. The story follows main character, Rebecca (Becky) Bloomwood, a woman who loves to shop, despite the fact that she has maxed out all of her accounts doing it. She literally can’t stop, hence the term, ‘shopaholic’, (which is an informal noun coined in the 1980’s meaning a compulsive shopper, according to Oxford American Dictionaries, since the suffix -aholic, or -oholic denotes to a person addicted to something as in ‘workaholic’, ‘alcoholic’, or ‘shopaholic’).

Anyway, back on to the movie. Becky needs money to buy more clothes, so she needs a good job. Because of her obsession with clothing, she wants to get a job at ‘Alette’ magazine for fashion, the top of a magazine chain. Instead, she lands a job at one of the chain’s lower down publications, called ‘Successful Savings’ - not her area of expertise. But, being a movie, she gets the job, partly because the man who is hiring kind of likes her, and she kind of likes him, and they don’t have a romantic interest for her yet.

Don’t get me wrong, I did like this movie. But could you expect it to be anything other than contrived? I think not. Essentially, my consensus is this: I read the books, I enjoyed the books, and I must admit that this was a fairly entertaining movie. The cast is strong, and while it does get kind of silly at times, it is completely harmless fun. If you’ve read the books, then you will probably enjoy this movie. Watch it and have some fun.

_____________________________________________

Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD Review By Nicole

**1/2 (out of 4)

Based on the book series by Sophie Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic is a fun and completely harmless romantic comedy. When Becky Bloomwood goes shopping, she doesn’t just buy what she needs. Oh no. She buys everything that catches her eye, with the five or six credit cards that she carries everywhere. Eventually, she goes into debt, and so she looks for a job at a fashion magazine. She instead lands a job at a sister publication, a finance magazine. Becky starts a finance column entitled “The Girl in the Green Scarf”, while being hypocritical, becomes an amazing hit. Her job as a columnist only gets better, now that her attractive boss, Luke, whom she always fancied, has now started to notice her. However, Becky’s addiction to shopping continues to catch up to her. She still can’t resist the store mannequins, who seem to talk to her and wave hello, inviting her to buy more stuff. Now an annoying debt collector is harassing her. Becky now realizes that, in order to have a real life, she has to tackle her addiction.

Despite what could have been an annoying film, instead turns out to be a very witty and funny light comedy. This is dues to good acting, a light and fun story, and not much rude content. In fact, this movie contains no sexual situations or nudity, and very little language. The talking mannequins add a whimsical, Disney feel to the film. Confessions of a Shopaholic is a movie that even teens and seniors will enjoy.

The bonus features on this DVD include deleted scenes, bloopers, and a music video.

This movie is mindless fun, and is worth either renting or buying.

_____________________________________________

Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

“Confessions of a Shopaholic’ is based on the five book series by Sophie Kinsella. As a fan of the books, I hoped the movie would keep the same lighthearted fun spirit. Fortunately, it did. “Confessions of a Shopaholic’ is a funny and entertaining romantic comedy.

The main character Rebecca (Becky) Bloomwood is played amazingly well by Isla Fisher. Becky is a magazine writer who is completely addicted to shopping. She just can’t say no to the store mannequins who gesture and call to her as she walks by store windows. When she manages to get a job at a financial magazine as a back door way to work at a fashion magazine, the results are more than she could have hoped for. Becky’s financial advice column “The Girl in the Green Scarf becomes extremely popular and she has the attention of her good looking boss, Luke Brandon (played charmingly well by Hugh Dancy). Becky’s good luck is undermined by the fallout of her shopping addiction-Major personal debt and a determined debt collector.

The subplot of shopping addiction and debt problems is not a funny topic in these economic times, but this movie is funny. The movie works because of the stellar coast. Joan Cusack and John Goodman as Becky’s parents are both fun to watch.

The storyline wraps up well with Becky’s addiction being addressed and the love story with Luke fulfilled. The movie is very much a condensed version of the book but it is well done. This would make good viewing for teens and older. Put on your favorite outfit, get popcorn ready and enjoy. Nice, light summer fun. Buy it or rent it. Enjoy.

_____________________________________________

Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD Review By Tony

**1/2 (out of 4)

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a light comedy based on the popular series of books by Sophie Kinsella. The title character Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) can’t resist a designer item on sale, especially when beckoned by animated shop window mannequins. Having run up a number of credit cards, just out of a job, and hounded by a collection agent, she seeks a position at a fashion magazine named after its founder Alette (Kristin Scott Thomas). She gets a job instead at a money management magazine owned by the same publisher (John Lithgow), hoping to move from there into the other position. Though she is totally unqualified, the editor Luke (Hugh Dancy) is intrigued by her quirky writing style under the pseudonym “Girl in the Green Scarf”, and finds her refreshing. Though fairly predictable with more than its share of dumb gags, Confessions of a Shopaholic is a charming film mainly due to its strong cast, and as a bonus is free of vulgarity.

The DVD includes some dreadful deleted scenes, some slightly better bloopers, and an ok music video mixed with some film clips

_____________________________________________

Consensus: Confessions of a Shopaholic provides for an evening of mindless fun. **3/4 (Out of 4)