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| Movie Name: |
Confessions of a Shopaholic |
| Grade: |
B |
| Date Posted: |
3/11/09 |
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Confessions Of A Isla-aholic
“Confession of a Shopaholic” is idiotic yet intoxicating. If you can get past the many character inconstancies, this is the ultimate date movie, warm and funny, and Isla Fisher’s coming out party as America's new sweetheart.
Based on the bestselling novels, “Confessions” follows flibbergibbit Rebecca Bloomwood, a compulsive shopper drowning in debt. She stumbles upon a journalism job at a money magazine and becomes a celebrity for her candid column that correlates shopping to high finance. She also manages to fall in love with her editor, the dashing Hugh Dancy (HBO’s “Elizabeth I”).
Hollywood had unleashed the effervescent Fisher in the smash hit comedy “The Wedding Crashers.” There she played a rabid nymphet practically humping Vince Vaughn’s leg. A few years later, she charmed Ryan Reynolds as a fast talking rebel in “Definitely, Maybe.” “Shopaholic” is her first starring role and as demonstrated by her front and center appearance on all one-sheets, Disney expects her to draw huge crowds. Their expectations are greatly founded. Fisher has that innate girl-next-door charm that turned Sandra Bullock into a star in the 90s. Attainable, but perfect, Fisher is the girl you take home to mother. It’s just a shame the script often forces her into Lucy Ricardo-like schemes and pratfalls.
Her chemistry with Dancy oozes off the screen. “My Bloody Valentine” may have had 3D pickaxes strike the audience, but this film has these two’s sexual attraction tickle the audience’s hearts as if WE were the ones discovering love.
The supporting cast is filled with great talents, from John Lithgow as a Rupert Murdock-like leader to Kristen Scott Thomas as a pretentious French magazine editor. John Goodman and Joan Cusack are engaging as Fisher’s parents. Only the villains Leslie Bibb and Robert Stanton are absurd.
The script attempts to sabotage all the good will afforded the stars, with Fisher’s character forced to act like a moron, despite having the writing genius of a modern Jane Austin.
Director PJ Hogan has a knack for turning unknowns into movie stars (Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths in “Muriel’s Wedding,” Rupert Everett in “My Best Friend’s Wedding”). It’s a shame though that his comedy style still hinges on slapstick and not something more sophisticated. There are some interesting conceits however, like the mannequins coming to life to seduce Fisher’s character into buying expensive items. It visualizes the siren-esque hypnotic draw that addicts feel towards their object of compulsion.
On its own merit, “Confessions of a Shopaholic” is a minor comedy. Based on the charm Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy bring to the affair, this is a celebration of a new movie star. Grade: B
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| Posted by: bouynxdor |
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