Spring Break
'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' a coming of age story
4 out of 5 stars
Elizabeth Ruocco
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Focus
"Confessions of a Shopaholic" tells the story of Rebecca Bloomberg (Isla Fisher), a young woman who has gotten herself deep into debt because of her shopping habit. But this changes drastically when she gets a job at a financial savings magazine (to earn money to shop, no doubt), and later falls in love with its editor (played by Hugh Dancy). As she learns to manage her money and her wardrobe, she learns a more important lesson: that it's not just the clothes that make the man, or woman in her case.
Although the timing of this movie is not the best, considering the current economic situation many people are finding themselves in, there is a lot to be said about its lesson. As Rebecca learns to control her spending, the audience can relate. The movie is a coming-of-age tale centered around Bloomberg's managing her debt and shopping impulses.
The music in the move corresponded perfectly with its overarching idea. Danceable songs about shopping and money - Lady Gaga's "Fashion," Adrienne Bailon's "Big Spender" and Greg Laswell's "Girl Just Want To Have…" - set the tone. Even the main character's ringtone of "If I Were A Rich Girl" complemented her personality perfectly.
The acting in the movie was executed very well. Fisher's character seemed genuinely torn at time between her love of shopping and desire to be financially responsible. It was hard for audience members not to root for her by the end of the movie. Dancy, playing editor Luke Brandon, was very believable as a former spoiled brat who was embarrassed at the opulence that surrounded his childhood.
The scenery and filming locations also served to bring the audience into the movie. Little touches, like the Yves Saint Laurent display cases and the Bendel's cashmere sweaters being close to the camera in each frame drew the audience into each scene. The bright colors, especially in Bloomberg's wardrobe, helped the audience see her vivacious personality very time she was on screen. Her charm was hard to ignore.
Between the set design, costuming and music, the film showed Bloomberg's growing-up process as she turned from a spendthrift into a thrifty spender.
Although the timing of this movie is not the best, considering the current economic situation many people are finding themselves in, there is a lot to be said about its lesson. As Rebecca learns to control her spending, the audience can relate. The movie is a coming-of-age tale centered around Bloomberg's managing her debt and shopping impulses.
The music in the move corresponded perfectly with its overarching idea. Danceable songs about shopping and money - Lady Gaga's "Fashion," Adrienne Bailon's "Big Spender" and Greg Laswell's "Girl Just Want To Have…" - set the tone. Even the main character's ringtone of "If I Were A Rich Girl" complemented her personality perfectly.
The acting in the movie was executed very well. Fisher's character seemed genuinely torn at time between her love of shopping and desire to be financially responsible. It was hard for audience members not to root for her by the end of the movie. Dancy, playing editor Luke Brandon, was very believable as a former spoiled brat who was embarrassed at the opulence that surrounded his childhood.
The scenery and filming locations also served to bring the audience into the movie. Little touches, like the Yves Saint Laurent display cases and the Bendel's cashmere sweaters being close to the camera in each frame drew the audience into each scene. The bright colors, especially in Bloomberg's wardrobe, helped the audience see her vivacious personality very time she was on screen. Her charm was hard to ignore.
Between the set design, costuming and music, the film showed Bloomberg's growing-up process as she turned from a spendthrift into a thrifty spender.
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