Movie review: 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'

By Mia Iverson

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Confessions of a Shopaholic is not your typical chick flick. Although the movie centers around a young woman and young man who are thrown together under extraordinary circumstances, the plot, wit and humor take this chick flick to a whole new level.

Meet Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher). She’s a vibrant young lady, five years out of college, and doesn’t feel the need to hide her opinions. Her degree is in journalism and the magazine she doesn’t like working for just folded. Oh, and one another thing, she has 12 credit cards. Yes ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Bloomwood is a shopaholic. Between her renting an apartment with her best friend, and hiding her association with her now-defunct magazine, Rebecca shops. But that is not the crux of the story. After all, what is a heroine without aspirations? Rebecca dreams of working for Allete (kind of like reality’s Vogue).

Meet Luke Brandon: The hottie with the accent played impeccably by Hugh Dancy. Mr. Brandon is the newly appointed editor to a very boring business magazine. His goal is to take the magazine above and beyond financial hypocrites who rule Wall Street and love to hear themselves talk. Under extraordinary circumstances, which I found to be more awkward and charming than most, Rebecca finds herself employed. Oh, but here’s the catch. Luke’s magazine is uniquely poised to jump-start her into the world of Allete.

Among other subplots of her best friend’s wedding, stalking debt collectors, talking mannequins, and John Goodman and Joan Cusack playing Rebecca’s parents, Confessions of a Shopaholic is a breath of fresh air.

Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

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