Confessions of a Shopaholic (Movie Review)

If you’ve ever been to a movie theater that was screening Confessions of a Shopaholic, you’ve probably heard of the gizmo that Rebecca Bloomwood (Cate Blanchett) writes about on her blog. Although the advice column is a success, a nagging secret is threatening to undermine Rebecca’s career and love life. She’s determined to save her money by turning her hobby of buying and reading fashion magazines into a job writing financial advice columns. However, she’s not the only one trying to make a buck.

The film is directed by PJ Hogan and features a cast of talented actors including Cillian Murphy, Rachel Weisz, and James Marsden. Although the film is light and frothy, there is a surprising amount of depth to the characters. It’s also fun to watch the way the actors interact with each other. There’s a lot of laughs and a believable romance that doesn’t go over the top. And for the record, Fisher’s performance is nothing short of memorable.

Shopaholic is a fun film. It’s got a cute albeit predictable romantic subplot that involves an amateur stuntman (Nick Offerman) and his girlfriend (Amber Tamblyn). In addition to the romance, the film is littered with other wacky characters, most notably a perky but underhanded boss (Scott Eastwood) and a thrifty mom (Joan Cusack). Besides the usual suspects, the film also features some quirky but well executed comedy courtesy of the actors, particularly the understated Dancy and Fisher.

Several of the movie’s more impressive technical innovations are a bit of a letdown, especially when it comes to the story. Still, the film’s most notable accomplishment is its slapstick humor, which is quite refreshing after a string of lame romcoms. On the other hand, the film does a surprisingly good job of displaying the creativity of its protagonists. So much so that a slew of awards were awarded to the cast, including the Best Film Oscar for Feature, Best Supporting Actor for Matthew Goode, and the Best Actor for Cillian Murphy.

While the movie is certainly not perfect, the film has several interesting bits of esoteric information that are worth checking out. For example, the film’s homage to the television show Home and Away is a treat for fans of the series. This was an especially apt homage given that Fisher is no stranger to the Australian soap opera. Likewise, a cursory glance at the film’s trivia book will reveal that the film’s mention of a ‘trophy’ is the smallest of all possible sizes. Similarly, there are a few other tangentially related references. Perhaps the most important is a tidbit about Fisher’s previous film, Hot Rod, which also starred Andy Samberg. One of the few things Fisher and Samberg have in common is a nerdy penchant for quoting lines from their respective films to each other.

Another fun film is Wedding Daze, which features an ensemble cast, led by Jason Biggs and Isla Lang Fisher. The aforementioned sexiest woman in the world is a highlight, as is the best actor performance of the film, as well as a slew of other fun and frolicsome characters.