Review: Confessions of a Shopaholic

So I finally got round to seeing this movie and I was pretty excited. I have read all the books - no I stand correct - I own all the books and I love them to bits. Rebecca Bloomwood is most definitely a girls girl. In fact I would go as far as to say that most ladies out there have a bit of Rebecca Bloomwood in them. She is a journalist who feels unfulfilled in her job on a homes and garden magazine. She is also a shameless shopaholic who is in total denial about her financial situation. She racks up thousands of dollars on her credit card to satisfy her urges and is dodging debt collectors. Rebecca yearns for a job as a journalist on glossy mag Allette but ends up getting a gig on Successful Savings (I know the irony of it all) from the same publishing company. The job does have its perks though and in the shape of super cute boss, Luke Brandon. In many ways Luke is the opposite of Becky; a minimalist, savvy about life and passionate about the financial industry. The article he commissions Becky to write about seductive marketing is so on point that you would have thought that director, PJ Hogan might have had an inclination about the credit crunch.

There has been a lot of outcry from Shopaholic fans about the decision to make Rebecca (or Becky as she is referred to in the books) American as opposed to British. I admit I was pretty annoyed when Isla Fisher was cast in the role because she is completely different from how I imagined Rebecca. I was puzzled about this choice but I guess the big Hollywood machine played it's hand here. I do feel that the quintessential Becky has been eradicated and what we have in its place is a quirky American lady with next door appeal. Kind of like a much younger Carrie Bradshaw who is now so famous that she has her own wikipedia page. Isla is brilliant in this film and brings a sweetness to a character who some might have found grating; also her comic timing is excellent. She demonstrates a lot of chemistry with Hugh Dancy who turns out to be very good as Luke.

The cinematography is amazing and reminiscent to that of The Devil Wears Prada. Now onto the outfits which were styled by Patricia Fields who made the clothes pop in Sex and the City. Rebecca's outfits consists of designer and vintage and they are full of colour and flavour. There are lots of pretty dresses, skirts, blouses topped with some cool coats. Yes it is a bit Sex and the City(ish) but Isla manages to pull it off and make it her own.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

I read this book from start to end without coming up for air during a flight from Sydney to Tokyo back in 2000. It was captivating, hilarious, and highly topical. I am sure with today's credit crunch it will be even more so. Confessions of a Shopaholic is written by Sophie Kinsella and is the tale of Becky Bloomwood, a working girl who spends her money as soon as she gets it. After accumulating thousands of pounds in debt, Becky refuses to face her dire situation and carries on spending and spending. You can read more about the Shopaholic books in blog that I worte here. A few years and several sequels later I was thrilled to hear that Confessions of a Shopaholic was being turned into a movie. I was less thrilled in hearing that Aussie actress, Isla Fisher was playing Becky Bloomwood and to add insult to injury she would be American and not English as in the book. So, so annoying and my enthusiasm for the film waned. However after seeing the trailer for the film I have softened a bit because it looks like we have the signs of a very good chick flick. Mind you it is directed by PJ Hogan who gave us My Best Friend's Wedding and Muriel's Wedding and he knows a thing or two about chick flicks. We also have the great Jerry Bruckheimer on board as producer and a certain Patricia Fields working on the wardrobe.

This is what Sophie Kinsella had to say about the film on her website.

"The movie isn't a scene-by-scene recreation of the book. It has similar plotlines and many scenes straight from the book - but it also has differences. Of course, there's a part of me that would have loved to see my own creation put up onto the screen word-for-word with not one syllable changed... but the truth is, films are very different from books. They are interpretations. I've had to realise that this isn't my baby any more, it is something different. So this movie will be an interpretation of Becky and her stories - with what I hope and strongly believe is exactly the same spirit and comedy and fun."

Check out the trailer above.

Confessions of a Shopaholic is released on 27th February 2009.

Person Patricia Fields

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