Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) User Reviews (173)

Becky Bloomwood's Alright with Me

[zeedunn · 7/10 · 9 March 2009]

I have been a longtime fan of the Sophie Kinsella Shopaholic books, which feature the lovable but compulsive Becky Bloomwood. So I wasn't sure what to expect out of the movie version.

Rebecca Bloomwood is a lovely redheaded young woman who loooooves to shop. I am not talking about the reasonable kind of love where she goes monthly or even weekly to see what's new at her local boutique. I am talking about an addiction as powerful as any drug out there. When she walks past a store, the mannequins talk to her and convince her that this, only this, particular item has the power to make her feel better, more attractive, more alive. She shops using 12 credit cards, including her Gold Card, which is encased in a block of ice in the freezer in case of emergencies. The tone of the film is comic, so it's not a tragic type of addiction, but we understand that Becky has a problem and she needs some serious help.

Rebecca also has her own personal bill collector stalker type person following her around named Derek Smeath. All told, she owes Mr. Smeath some $16,000. After losing her job as a journalist, she decides to apply for her dream job: fashion correspondent for Alette magazine. For Becky, this would be equivalent to an alcoholic working in a brewery. The job gets filled before she can arrive, but a sister magazine from the same magazine group, Successful Saving, is hiring. The man at the front desk assures her that the magazine group is a family, and once you're in, you're in. The only problem is that the magazine that ends up hiring Becky is a financial advice magazine. Not exactly the type of place that suits Becky's lifestyle or assets.

Becky's boss is Luke Brandon, a handsome, wealthy man with lots of energy and a black sheep complex. He never feels he can please his parents and leads a life of stress. He's amused by Becky's antics and impressed by her candor. Becky's writing for the financial magazine is a surprise hit. She writes about financial restraint in such a way that the average layperson can relate, comparing it to shoes. It seems like everything's going swell with her new job and a surprise romance with Luke. Derek Smeath can't get a leg in since she's convinced her colleagues that he's an ex-boyfriend stalking her. But like any liar knows, Becky can't keep the truth from her friends and family for long.

I enjoyed this movie. It was fun and sincere. We like Becky because she is flawed. She doesn't have it all together, but her style and spirit charm everyone around her. Sure she's addicted to shopping, but we don't despise her for it. Instead, we relate, because what woman hasn't given in to the siren song of a signature scarf now and again. The pull of a good bargain is a powerful thing, and this film is bound to be a hit with the average female.

The acting is suitable for the film. Nothing revolutionary comes out of it, but Isla Fisher will likely be back in many a comic role. The pacing of the film keeps you involved, but there are enough heartfelt moments to keep us focused.

Some have said that the timing for this film couldn't be worse. With the world in an economic downturn, do we really want to smile and nod at Becky's need to buy, buy, buy? Well, I say this film is healing balm. The nation will recover from this mini-depression, but in the meantime, it's kind of nice to voyeuristically enjoy Becky's indulgences. I have had to natch my weekly Starbucks and batten down my bank account hatches, so I need a little reward, even if it's done through Becky's pocketbook. Also, anyone who watches the film will realize that Becky goes through her own hard time, and she finds a way to get through it. She comes up with her own entrepreneurial scheme to pay off her debt. This is what we all need to do during the difficult times. Find a way to get through. Becky is my hero.

Girls night in

[kirstenlynch · 7/10 · 28 October 2020]

Cute rom-com. Suitable for all ages. Feel-good movie.

Money isn't everything to Rebecca Bloomwood, but shopping is.

[Jerique · 7/10 · 26 February 2009]

Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is a journalist with aspirations to work for Alette magazine. When her current job is lost when her company goes bankrupt, Rebecca is devastated to find she is $9000+ in debt. She, ironically, becomes a financial adviser columnist.

I went to this movie purely because of my crush on Isla, ever since seeing her in Wedding Crashers as the nympho obsessed with Jeremy (Vince Vaughn). It is without a doubt, a gigantic chick flick. Jokes that occur during the film, 90% of them have been seen in the trailer. Not trying to knock the movie, but that's a fact. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie, laughed a lot and sat awwstruck by the talent showcased by Isla. She really showed her colors by hitting all elements of the emotion spectrum.

I was surprised that her co-stars are such big names; such as her parents being played by lovable John Goodman and Joan Cusack, with Edgar West being played by John Lithgow and her opposite of the film being Hugh Dancy. There's a truckload of "aww" uttering romance, "lol" comedy and it's great for all ages. It also has a lesson at the end: use credit cards wisely. But overall, it teaches you that only fairy tale romance is active in Hollywood, not in reality. In the real world, Rebecca would not have gotten back in the black side of finance.

The clichés damper the movie's rating, for me, but it's a very enjoyful movie and I wouldn't mind seeing it a few more times before it leaves the theaters. By the way, it's a great date movie. Recommended.

Should make Melanie Griffith proud.

[JohnDeSando · 12 February 2009]

Being a non-shopper, I can hardly call myself expert on the parsing of a shopaholic in Confessions of a Shopaholic. But this I can say: Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is an addict of major proportions, unable to let go of the exhilaration that shopping brings, a feeling that the world is better for her purchases.

The film is a cliché from the get go, as corny as could possibly be about 25 year old writer Rebecca with the shopping affliction who eventually meets her dream man through a series of subterfuges that would make Melanie Griffith's Tess in Working Girl proud. What saves the film from my scourge, which did not spare the recent Pink Panther 2, is Isla Fisher, who plays dangerous innocence with sincerity and fresh-facedness that makes even Anne Hathaway's Devil Wears Prada role seem downright Machiavellian.

Confessions has this going for it: Although it is not a Judd Apatow comedy with some layers of sophisticated social comedy, it has moments of laughter and social conscience. Coming as it does amidst the worst recession in decades, in which shopping would be a welcome antidote to the fear of spending that exacerbates the recession, Confessions almost makes a case for credit spending; then again maybe such encouragement is not a good thing for shopaholics.

Shallow, Silly, but Makes Laugh

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 30 September 2009]

In New York, the journalist and compulsive liar Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is an addicted consumer that can not resist shopping fashionable clothes and outfits in fancy shops and has several unplayable debts with the credit cards. She dreams on working in the fashion magazine Alette owned by the sophisticated Alette Naylor (Kristin Scott Thomas), but she does not succeed in her intent. When Becky loses her job, she drinks a lot of booze with her best friend Suze (Krysten Ritter) and sends an offensive letter to the editor Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy) from the financial magazine "Successful Saving" and an article to Alette to show her potential. However, she unintentionally switches the correspondences in the mailbox and Luke hires her to write a column called "The Girl in the Green Scarf" in his magazine using a simple language and metaphors that could be easily understood by common people. Meanwhile the debt collector Derek Smeath (Robert Stanton) is chasing Becky and she is avoiding him everywhere, telling that he is an ex-boyfriend that is stalking her. When her column becomes a success, Becky is invited to participate in a talk show and Luke and she fall in love for each other. However, her lies and debts put her in a difficult situation with her audience, Suze and Luke.

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" is a silly story with a shallow and unlikable red-haired character that is the stereotype of the dumb-blonde that surprisingly makes laugh with some ridiculous situations. One of the funniest jokes is with Finland and Finnish language, inclusive in the credits Becky presents Alicia as a prostitute to the Finnish guys after leaning the language. I believe that people connected to fashion and fashionable outfits will enjoy this forgettable movie much more than I did. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Os Delírios de Consumo de Becky Bloom" ("The Delirium of Consumption of Becky Bloom")

Shop here if you have no other worthy comedic movie to shop in!

[meeza · 7/10 · 2 March 2009]

I have to give credit where credit is due; "Confessions of a Shopaholic" does have some engaging moments of comedic credibility. But unfortunately not enough to provide the film with a high interest rate. "Confessions of a Shopaholic" stars the perky Isla Fisher as Rebecca Bloomwood, a full-time magazine writer who also moonlights and daylights as a full-time shopaholic. Ms. Bloomwoodgale herself persistently shops & shops and has run her credit card balances to astronomical rates. Rebecca is in denial that she has a consumer addiction even though she continues to confront many credit card denials in her shopping sprees. She inadvertently gets hired to work as a journalist in (out of all places) a financial magazine. However, her overridden goal is to work as a fashion journalist in the monarchic fashion magazine "Adelle". She starts writing columns in the financial magazine with the alias "the girl with the green scarf" on the nightmare of commercial manipulation and consumer zaniness. Yes! That is true! Is this great country or what? Oh wait, memo to self: this is a movie! Rebecca's personal list includes: a humble editor boss whom she falls for, a best friend roommate who tries to control her shopamanian ways, and parents who want to pursue their R.V. road trip dreams. Eventually and predictably, Rebecca does get herself in several hot water scenarios caused by her consumer craziness and persistent blasphemy. So therefore, she does go through the self-realization addiction process. Director P.J. Hogan's stereotypical depictions of the consumer industry did not provide me anything of originality to get all charged about. However, I must not discount the fact that I did like how he directed Isla Fisher. She was The Fisher Queen of this film with her zany but yet fervent performance; Isla is sure to have her master thespian card renewed with other comedic leading roles in the foreseeable future. However, the rest of the cast of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" are not worthy of a credit thespian increase. Screenwriter Tracey Jackson's script was not of a "laugh-it-all blue light special" material, but commendable enough for a few laughs in return. Due to our nation's economic strife, "Confessions of a Shopaholic" might not be the ideal movie to watch these days; but then again as was previously mentioned- It is a movie! So this yours truly movieholic will try to sale it to you at a moderate price. *** Average

I love a good chick flick - but that was just painful

[peterkowalski · 2/10 · 25 March 2009]

Let me start off by saying that I'm not your typical macho male who hates everything that is even remotely resembling to a chick flick. I like a good chick flick - if it's good. Most of them are. Some are not. Confessions of a Shopaholic fall into the latter category. The movie is painfully predictable (you can literally guess what will happen next) and ridiculously not funny. The acting is poor, even though there is a number of well-renowned artists present. The fashions is more than once, more than twice absolutely disgraceful, especially for a fashion themed movie. The plot is flat and it lacks much sense. The main character is annoyingly irresponsible. The list goes on and on, but there is something more that is really frightening. The movie is basically about a person who suffers from being a shopaholic. She has actual illness, which makes her buy everything she sees on the display, which gives her an adrenaline rush. We all know that there is such thing. Nothing wrong about making a movie about it either. The problem is that this is not handled in any good way in the movie. The girl gets off easy, she barely learns her lesson and on top of everything the poor debt-collecting worker is being shown as a negative character for reasons I cannot fully understand. What's even more frightening, I can see this movie being a guideline for hundreds of women who in deed have a spending problem, who do spend more than they make and I doubt that this movie will make them rethink their actions, au contraire: they will find it as an excuse to develop their habits even further. As far as I am from preaching about the state of economy, I really thought that this movie carried a certain amount of wisdom; instead of this, I was left with a moronic picture for brain-dead. Thanks, but no thanks. If a gay guy hates a chick flick, then you know it can't be good.

Fisher earns her Gold Card

[C-Younkin · 7/10 · 13 February 2009]

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" is surprisingly tolerable and even likable, a relief to guys who look at that title and shudder at the fact that their probably going to be spending Valentines Day with their girlfriends watching it. It's a good movie though, unfortunately not the economic satire we could all use right about now, but a good movie nonetheless. It's attempts at laughs are kinda downers, as I would assume Sophie Kinsella's book of the same name went with a much wittier approach to this satire about responsible spending rather than for easy laughs. Luckily this Jerry Bruckheimer produced flick has Isla Fisher as its headliner though. Not only is she gorgeous but she will probably grow to be one of the most gifted comic actresses around.

She plays Rebecca Bloomwood, an NY sometime-journalist, all-the-time spend-freak. A store is fantastic because they can never leave you, but they can also slap you with a huge credit card bill. She's nearly $20,000 in debt and just lost her lifeline. Her hope is to land a job at a leading fashion magazine, Alette, named for its legendary founder (Kristin Scott Thomas). Only an accident leads her to working in the world of financial journalism with Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy), the cute but shlubby-dressing workaholic editor of a savings magazine. Rebecca writing an advice column for a savings magazine is ludicrous to everyone but him. He believes she can reach people like her, and low and behold, her first article becomes a sensation. People fall in love with her honesty and a romance with Luke also develops. Just staying one step ahead of her debt proves tricky.

A lot of what makes this movie work is based around Fisher's performance. A perfect love interest in both "The Wedding Crashers" and last year's "Definitely, Maybe", she more than handles her first starring role, she owns it. She's an adorable red-head and wild comedic actress that you can't help but like. She has good chemistry with a well cast Hugh Dancy, charming as the tightly wound British editor. He reminds me of a young Colin Firth. They have a nice early scene together at a meeting of CEO's, teaching her the finer points of hard-hitting journalism and fat-cat CEO bonuses. Unfortunately the movie doesn't have more scenes like this one. The supporting cast, which includes John Lithgow, Fred Armisen, Scott Thomas, Wendie Malick, John Goodman and Joan Cusack all do what they can in small roles but the writing here isn't great.

The screenplay, by a trio of writers, bases all the laughs in broad comedy, mostly all about rabidly insane women and their shopping obsessions. It's sometimes funny, like when Rebecca ruins the progress of a support group for recovering shoppers, but soon all the talking mannequins and department store craziness just gets silly. It's an amusing little story though and while it takes a little long to finalize the romance, correct the debt, mend friendships, and learn a thing or two about financial responsibility, the themes here are identifiable and timely enough to keep interest. And director PJ Hogan avoids dumbing it down by taking a classier approach and finds affection for these characters.

"Shopaholic" is Fisher's show though and it's a solid enough piece of work to support her while she shows off her considerable skill. The movie on the other hand is something you wish were funnier but is still pretty harmless, amusing and even nice to watch. And on Valentines Day it more than fits the bill.

Use your $$ to buy the book!

[lulut_17 · 1/10 · 15 February 2009]

Where do I start... this movie was terrible! I went with my friends on Valentines day hoping for a fun chick flick. We were all so bored and annoyed with the movie that we couldn't wait for it to be over.

If you've read the book, you'll be distracted by how different the movie is. They took a good concept and pretty much ruined it. There is a lot of overacting/squealing/screaming, characters that pop in and out, and laughable, cheesy drama at the end. To wrap it up, there are even creepy mannequins. While the movie is packed with good actors and actresses, their talent isn't utilized in this silly, overworked script.

Invest your $10 in the book... it's much better!

Good Chick Flick! Enjoyable for all

[godofallodds · 7/10 · 13 June 2009]

Confessions Of A Shopaholic is a chick flick NO DOUBT! but it has been quite some time since we had a decent chick flick on d big screen..

The movie has a good narration and corny dialogues and a exponential growth in the characterization of the Protagonist. The movie's antagoinist are all the shops...

The plot is well developed and portrayed really well, and the movie is steers in the right direction with an awesome soundtrack. The Movie is enjoyable for all ages and gender and if u want a chiller.. this is juz ur movie...

MY VERDICT: WORTH A WATCH!

annoying at best, and insulting at worst

[emilycoco · 1/10 · 20 June 2010]

I enjoy a mindless romantic comedy as much as the next person, but I was unable to finish this movie. For one, it was supremely annoying. Isla Fisher and most of the other characters were stereotyped into oblivion, to the point where you couldn't relate if you wanted to. And why would you want to relate? They were for the most part selfish, short-sighted, curiously loud, and generally intolerable. But the main reason that compelled me to turn the movie off is that I found it completely insulting. Viewers are supposed to suspend reality and believe that Fisher finds fame and success as a financial writer through her ridiculous metaphors about shopping. The fact that she's too dumb to take her own advice, and yet she still somehow manages to fool everyone around her, is just too much reality for me to suspend. Moreover, the portrayal of a woman who finds success in finance through only dumb luck and cute outfits is an insult to all the women who find similar success in that field through their intellect and drive. I read the book and liked it enough to read the whole series, but this movie effectively removed all the nuances and details that made the book (and the pretty distasteful habits it depicted) bearable. I guess the sad irony is that I paid to watch it, while all the people involved with it are laughing all the way to the bank. Don't waste your time watching this abhorrent airbrushed fairy tale, and if you have a daughter of a formative age, please don't let her watch it either.

why did this bomb?

[kaj-37 · 9/10 · 29 July 2009]

I watch a lot of films. I'll watch anything from a slasher fest to some weird arty film that videos bookshelves (well almost).

Last year I pretty much watched every romantic comedy in existence, as that is all my (male) house-mate would watch. I'll watch anything but I've seen enough to know the dire ones (well, we all have our own opinions).

I really enjoyed this film. Maybe it is because I expected it to be really awful. Maybe I got seduced by the good cast. Or I really am a secret girly girl and just thought all the shopping was fabulous.

But seriously, how did this get _that_bad an IMDb rating? I mean, I actually thought it was better than the Devil Wears Prada, which I thought was a bit of a let down. OK, the script is not original but it doesn't contain any big clangers and it doesn't try to hard. There is no wooden acting. No moments of cringe worthy awfulness, and some good cast chemistry. No, if you want to see a bad big-budget rom-com I still maintain Wimbledon is awful. Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst looked completely indifferent to one another.

As for being disappointed about books. Sheesh. If you love a book never go see a movie (e.g. Atonement) or accept it is going to be completely different.

Confessions is utterly predictable, but the characters and actors are kooky in a lovable non-Oscar lusting way. Its like cheap chocolate-you know it has hardly any rich content but you keep going back.

F*** it. I really like this movie. Not quite as much as Fight Club or Dawn of the Dead, but its moving up there. Seriously.

Now if only they'd do a sequel involving Christina Ricci and a load of blood...

Funny and timely

[daverolltide · 7/10 · 11 February 2009]

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" is a chick flick romcom that you can take your daughter to see. You can take your mother to see it. Heck, you can take grandma. It's rated PG. No f-bombs. No naked people. No gun play.

Isla Fisher plays Rebecca Bloomfield, a journalist with an addiction to shopping. She gets into very deep debt. Kind of like our nation has done recently and is continuing to do. Not that this movie is intended to be any kind of political metaphor. It's just a cute and funny movie which any of us, male or female, can relate to---if we've ever accumulated too big a balance on our credit cards. (I know that I could've used a bailout a few times in my life!)

While the script provides some decent laughs, I loved Isla Fisher's physical comedy. She's good.

Hugh Dancy as the male lead was okay. But I'll leave the critique of his work to a female poster.

Always fun to see actors and actresses who you like but haven't seen on screen that much lately and "Shopaholic" has a few. Like Julie "Airplane" Hagerty and Wendy "Just Shoot Me/Dream On" Malick. Kristin Scott-Thomas, John Lithgow and, yes, Lynn Redgrave. Not to mention Joan Cusack and John Goodman as Rebecca's mom and dad.

For me, this is way more entertaining than last week's chick flick (the one which I'm just not that into). Even though that one had more star power, this one is the better movie, I think.

You don't have to be a shopaholic to enjoy "Confessions of a Shopaholic"

[Gordon-11 · 12 June 2009]

This film is about a girl who cannot control her shopping spree, despite her mounting debts and sudden unemployment.

I expected "Confessions of a Shopaholic" to be a light-hearted bubblegum comedy, and it exceeded my expectations. Isla Fisher is so delightful and fun as a helpless addict. Her ways to justify shopping and to keep a blind eye on her debt is hilarious. The jokes are squeaky clean and yet they are laugh out loud funny! The constant fashion show enhance the uplifting atmosphere, making me helplessly happy and joyful.

You don't have to be a shopaholic to enjoy "Confessions of a Shopaholic", as this movie is outrageously hilarious!

Rebeca loves Prada, Gucci, Yves St. Laurent, etc.

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 27 May 2010]

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" would have been a disaster if it were not for the way its director, P.J. Hogan, allowed its cast what appears to be a continuous fun on the set. Isla Fisher has a lot to do with the success of this comedy that with other actress might not have been the fun it is.

We realize from the start this is a movie that glorifies the shallowness in our consumer society, but it never takes itself seriously like "Sex in the City", for its own benefit. Yes, the idea is about how weak persons can end themselves in the predicament Rebeca Bloomwood finds herself. She shows no redeeming qualities, but she is not mean spirited. It is hard for her not to buy the latest fashions, or to miss a designer's sale.

Her credit card debt amounts to almost nine thousand dollars. She is being haunted by a bill collector, one Derek Smeath that is bent in almost stalking her to get her to pay. Rebeca, who hails from humble origins, has gone crazy when she arrived in Manhattan searching for a career in publishing. When the fashion magazine job she wants is filled, she decides to go for a completely different field, high finances, as a fluke. When she is hired, no one is more surprised than her. Working for Luke Brandon will ultimately bring her to her senses. In the process she falls in love with a man that sees her for what she is.

Isla Fisher continues to surprise. She is a good comedienne as she has already proved in "Definitely, Maybe" and other films. Her rapport with co-star Hugh Dancy pays off in unexpected ways. Krysten Ritter, who plays her best friend Suze is quite effective. The excellent Kristin Scott-Thomas shows up as a sort of Anna Wintour editor. John Goodman and Joan Cusack are seen as Rebeca's parents.

Enjoyable if you gloss over its flaws

[napierslogs · 6/10 · 20 July 2010]

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" really isn't a good story. I had known enough to stay away from the books. It is also, though, light, frivolous fun.

The starting scenes are a lot of fun with Rebecca (Isla Fisher) eyeing the magic of credit cards, and then store mannequins telling her what to buy. It has a great pace especially with the frenetic dashings to get away from the debt collector. It is a simple story and they know that, so they advance it quickly and keep it fun.

The issues with the film is that perhaps they take credit card debt too lightly, but hey, this is supposed to be an escape film. Remember that it's supposed to be an escape film because it of course can be too hard to believe that Rebecca gets a job writing financial advice. The jokes at times get drawn out too much, so it's not as funny as I would have hoped.

All in all, Isla Fisher is a joy to watch, and if you allow yourself to gloss over its flaws, then "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is enjoyable.

In times of money madness, its shopping time

[Stampsfightclub · 3/10 · 3 March 2009]

Shopaholic Rebecca Bloomwood (Fisher) looks to settle in at a money magazine as her shopping bills pile up.

After some charmingly weird performances in Wedding Crashers, Definitely, Maybe and Wedding Daze, Isla Fisher secures her first major lead role as cooky Bloomwood, the symbol of shopping, the girl who simply has to have everything that she sees. That cutting edge charm in the star's previous roles is frequently present but with a tried and tested formulaic plot that charm is always hanging in mid air.

This isn't a star driven film, and with an ordinary story and hardly any humour you wonder what the purpose is. It juggles the addiction of shopping and over-dramatic central character too much to balance specifically on either entertainment or drama.

Based on Sophie Kinsella's best selling novels, Confessions is designed to appeal to people who simply were born to shop and enjoy spending money without considering those disastrous consequences. So cue all recent high street sellers names add in awkward spurts of humour and encode a tried and tested narrative and you have your typical story for the current fashion industry. And at a time of a certain credit crunch, what's better to remind yourself of the people who have money to spend? So here you have the potential to convey current political issues and show disastrous ramifications and amazingly, this does not. Rebecca finds a job and soon she is the talk of the town and she is single so a romantic interest is thrown in, as is the challenge of a new job and everything starts to escalate on exactly the same day and she is in trouble etc.

It's hard not to be surprised by how ordinary this film actually is. The trailer says it all. Though the book is based on an English girl's addiction, the film is an American adaptation and you get the feeling if this was a British film there would be more dramatic consequences and a more realistic and surprising turn of the problem rather than this frankly boring take.

My friend who forced me to see this film with him was laughing beside me, at how bad this was. However I found it so bad and such a waste of money, that I couldn't even do that. Confessions of a Shopaholic is your typical story wrapped around touchy subject that is undeveloped, inaccurate and down right poor.

Funny enough. Isla Fisher is the reason to watch it.

[insomniac_rod · 6/10 · 26 June 2010]

Funny satire over a girl who likes shopping in extreme fashion. This comedy may not be appealing for everyone because it's silly, feels very "chick flick", some moments are not funny, and the sarcasm behind social situations (like for example AA) is not that creative.

Still, I find it to be a very entertaining and at some points, funny comedy. Isla Fisher is an extremely talented comedy actress. She's sexy, funny, charming, and hot. I like her physical acting and voice. She's a talented actress that carries the movie on her back.

I recommend it for those who have nothing better to do and want to have mindless entertainment. It's all about shopping, paying bills, finding romance, girlfriends, and well, nothing much more.

Decent effort.

Sophie Kinsella where are you?

[celticjunkie · 3/10 · 7 August 2009]

This film was a huge disappointment. It was almost cartoon-like (maybe because Disney got its hands on it???) and contained very little of the novel's humor, tension, and honesty. Where was Becky Bloomwood's post-shopping-binge remorse and panic?? Why make Luke Brandon her boss?? Why have Alicia's character played by a transvestite? (Sorry, but she looks like one.) Instead of laughing, I was groaning in disgust, and could not wait for the DVD to end. To top it all off, what a complete and total embarrassment for John Goodman and Joan Cusack, whose talents were utterly wasted in this film. What I did like, though, were those talking mannequins -- how cool was that???

Harmful to your eyes

[chloelee-24370 · 6/10 · 28 April 2019]

Can't believe i rewatched this several times just to see Hugh's part. He was so charming, many cringey scenes suddenly didn't seem that cringey at all

Bubbly personality always saves the day, even for liars

[dierregi · 1/10 · 7 April 2013]

What we have here is the modern fairy-tale of Rebecca (played by Isla Fisher, a dependable comic actress). Rebecca is a dizzy, selfish, irresponsible creature but people love her because of her bubbly personality and super-cute face.

Rebecca is deep in debt because she buys too much stuff for herself, and when she gets fired she must accept a boring job in a financial magazine to keep her from bankruptcy She gets the job merely on the strength of her looks, because Luke, the guy who hires her, knows from the start that she is a liar.

It is very clear that this story has nothing to do with real life, but another level of implausibility is added when we discover that Luke (played by Hugh Dancy) not only is the editor of the financial magazine, but also the heir of a rich family.

Could this be another Cinderella-revisited? Yes and no, because Cinderella was a likable character. Rebecca, not so much. She lies to her parents, her friends and her employer, She is an addict in denial and totally unreliable. But still, that bubbly personality and perky figure will save the day for her.

Once her lies are discovered, she manages to repay her debt by auctioning her wardrobe and, in a mean twist, repaying her debt in coins so as to annoy even more the bill collector. The collector was only doing his job and I believe all of us, in his place, would have been thoroughly annoyed by Rebecca's behavior.

In the movie Rebecca is presented as the cute heroine, who not only save herself on her own, without borrowing from her parents or from her rich boyfriend, but also get offered the job of her dreams – at a Vogue-like magazine – only to turn it down, because she stands on higher grounds than advertising expensive stuff.

That is the part that I found more ridiculous and offensive: the fact that a liar like Rebecca is painted as if she has "higher moral standard" than anybody around her… Oh, and she even gets the rich prince, at the end.

Confessions of a Shopaholic-aholic

[misterembryo · 8/10 · 8 March 2009]

I confess. I fell for the Shopaholic. Isla Fisher is charming, funny, adorably goofy yet undeniably attractive. You can't help but notice her uncanny resemblance to Enchanted's Amy Adams, which is not a bad thing at all, yet she still maintains the same unique kookiness we all enjoyed in her role as Vince Vaughn's equal in The Wedding Crashers. The incredible job on the CGI'd mannequins, done by Lucasfilms' Industrial Light & Magic, is also worth mentioning.

You're not supposed to go into the movie expecting it to be the next epic Titanic love story. You're expecting it to be goofy and sentimental yet genuine and entertaining, and it was all those things.

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a rare gem that's worth the guilty swipe of a maximized credit card.

I am ready to confess that I liked this film, most romcom fans will, too!

[inkblot11 · 7/10 · 18 February 2009]

Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) grew up in a household where her two parents (Joan Cusack and John Goodman) looked for bargains at every opportunity. That meant getting ugly brown shoes, as a little girl, instead of more desirable ones, for example. Now a grown-up journalist, Rebecca just can't resist shopping for what she never had, designer clothes, accessories and the like. Yet, her salary does not even begin to cover her expenditures and she winds up with a $16,000 credit card bill! Fortunately, her roommate Suze lets her delay payments on rent for their apartment. Learning of a more lucrative job at Allette, a Vogue-type magazine that Rebecca worships, the pretty young scribe heads off to the magazine's headquarters. But, the position she aspired to has just been filled by a someone else. However, a monetary journal published by the same team IS looking for someone to write columns on saving more of the green stuff. The handsome manager, Luke (Hugh Dancy) asks Rebecca for a sample of work and likes what he reads. But, is shop-till-I-drop Rebecca really suited to give others advice on how to stash some cash? This is a cute little film that will please most fans of romantic comedy. Fisher is a total delight as the spend-crazy writer while Dancy, Cusack, Goodman, and the rest of the cast members back her up nicely. Naturally, the costumes are terrific, with Rebecca and others looking great at every turn. Also, the Manhattan setting is good, as are the film's script, direction, and productions values. Therefore, all of you moviegoers who adore humorous stories of love should spring for some tickets to see this flick. Most viewers will be ready to confess that it was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, after any showing.

Good Timing, Hollywood

[Dshannon-8 · 1/10 · 21 February 2009]

Amazing how overly sensitive Hollywood can be - sometimes. Like when the Challenger shuttle blew up - you pulled the release of Spacecamp (1986), a movie about a space shuttle disaster. After the 9/11 attacks, you pulled Collateral Damage (2002).

But, when dealing with the Recession/Depression/Credit Crunch, something affecting tens of millions of families all over the world, causing debt, unemployment, homelessness, misery, a problem that will be ongoing for years, will you think about pulling a movie about a brainless bimbo who goes off and spends far more than she could possibly afford, on something as trivial and pointless as clothes and accessories? No. And why? Because despite churning out unfunny SNL alumni films and pointless remakes of movies and TV shows and bombastic Michael Bey explogasms, none of which people really want to see, you're still going to be in your jobs, driving around in your air-conditioned SUVs chugging down double iced mocha-choca-caffine frappacinos while ignoring the teeming masses on the pavements living in cardboard condos holding up signs saying Will Work For Food. Gee, I wish I was a movie executive.