ghcheese
John Goodman and Joan Cusak. Really. When have they ever been in a bad movie. They played second fiddle but they were perfectly wonderful. Isla Fisher was beautiful and funny all at the same time. And this Hugh Dansey. Never heard of this guy before but he was like a young Hugh Grant who I don't care what anyone says, is hilarious. Of course the young and the stupid gave this a bad rating. That is because the only comedy they understand is someone who is dumb. Dumb and Dumber. This is smart comedy with a flare. Good family fun. Just make sure there are some onions around to blame for the tears toward the end.
Saarah N
After having read some of the negative reviews for this film, I have noted that most people were upset, and rated this film harshly, because of it having been a poor film adaptation of the book. So, since I have not yet read the book this film is based on, I feel I should judge this film as a film in its own right. I do not in any way mean to discredit the reviews of others', through this review. As a book over film person, myself, I can understand their irritation.For a romantic comedy, this film was hugely entertaining. I've never known a character who could mess up so much, and charmingly: from her compulsive and mostly unbelievable lies, to how her friend's bridesmaid's dress manages to find its way into a charity shop. Isla Fisher's enthusiasm matched the characters: her excitement when visiting a store, or when hearing about a sale. It was just wow. The storyline in itself was also humorous: a young woman struggling to control her urge to 'shop till she drops' finds herself working for a financial savings journal. The irony. Her debt is only getting higher with that stress: only shopping can make her happy. I was surprised she didn't ask her parents for money sooner, considering her crazy spending habits. Equally, I'm surprised her parents didn't freak out or reprimand her behaviour. But outside of that, the film was wonderful- I'd watch with anyone over ten or eleven years of age, it may seem boring, particularly the bits when she's at work, to a younger child.
Python Hyena
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009): Dir: P.J. Hogan / Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, John Goodman, Joan Cusack, Krysten Ritter: Good theme wound around formula and corny storytelling. It regards truth as Isla Fisher must come to terms with her extensive shopping habits. She aims to work for a high profile magazine where she awkwardly gives advice about saving. Directed by P.J. Hogan with great visual flair. He previously made a live version of Peter Pan as well as the hilarious My Best Friends Wedding. Fisher is only casting that pulls through due to her enthusiasm. She plays someone with whom female viewers may relate plus she turns her addiction into a turnaround. We know that she will succeed but being predictable is the least of the film's problems. Hugh Dancy is standard issue as an editor who will obviously end up with Fisher. John Goodman and Joan Cusack are wasted as Fisher's parents who basically appear to fire off the odd one-liner and nothing more. Krysten Ritter plays Fisher's best friend and that is about the extent of her wasted appearance. Great idea for a comedy where shopping becomes a story point and the stores themselves provide certain character that the screenplay is unfortunately lacking. Strong lesson regarding spending and materialism but unfortunately spending wasn't done wisely on the choice of screenwriter. Score: 4 ½ / 10
SnoopyStyle
Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is a hopeless shopaholic. When she loses her hated magazine job, she gets another one in a financial magazine which she knows nothing about. Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy) is her new boss. She tries to juggle her lies, her shopping addiction, and escape her debt collector.Isla Fisher is cute and fabulous. This movie treats a very serious problem with cuteness. She almost gets away with it. The debt collector is never truly menacing. The lies she tells Luke are ridiculous. It's stupid how she could ever get the job unless he wanted to bang her. They should have introduced the girlfriend earlier so that the rom-com could take a more central role. And the shocking confrontation with the debt collector could have easily spun into something great for the magazine. That part never made much sense. This is a light fluffy comedy without much of an edge.
AD
