Movie/Book: Confessions of a Shopaholic
Director: P.J. Hogan
Screenplay Writer(s): Tracey Jackson, Tim Firth, and Kayla Alpert
Book By: Sophie Kinsella
Stars: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, and Krysten Ritter
Blurb:
A college grad lands a job as a financial journalist in New York City to support where she nurtures her shopping addiction and falls for a wealthy entrepreneur.
Storyline:
Struggling with her debilitating obsession with shopping and the sudden collapse of her income source, Rebecca Bloomwood unintentionally lands a job writing for a financial magazine after a drunken letter-mailing mix-up. Ironically writing about the very consumer caution of which she herself has not abided, Rebecca’s innovative comparisons and unconventional metaphors for economics grants her critical acclaim, public success, and the admiration of her supportive boss Luke. But as she draws closer to her ultimate goal of writing for renowned fashion magazine Alette, she questions her true ambitions and must determine if overcoming her “shopaholic” condition will bring her real happiness.
Book Blurb:
Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London’s trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season’s must-haves. The only trouble is, she can’t actually afford it—not any of it. Her job writing at Successful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn’t pay much at all. And lately Becky’s been chased by dismal letters from the bank—letters with large red sums she can’t bear to read. She tries cutting back. But none of her efforts succeeds. Her only consolation is to buy herself something. . . just a little something.
Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life—and the lives of those around her—forever.
By your copy of Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella HERE!
The Books:
• The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (2000) also published as Confessions of a Shopaholic (2001)
• Shopaholic Abroad (2001) also published as Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (2002)
• Shopaholic Ties the Knot (2002)
• Shopaholic & Sister (2004)
• Shopaholic & Baby (2007)
• Mini Shopaholic (2010)
• Shopaholic to the Stars (2015)
• Shopaholic to the Rescue (2016)
MOVIE RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★
Story: ★★★
Acting: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (3.33)
My 2 Cents:
I read the book, Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, years ago. I can’t really say I remember too much about it, but I do remember enjoying it. In fact, I enjoyed it enough to run out and by the next two books in the series as soon as I finished. I think that was where I stopped. The rest of the series hadn’t come out at the time.
The movie is based on the first two books in the series, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad. Lucky for me, as I watched I slowly started to remember bits and pieces of the books. I absolutely love Isla Fisher, but would never have cast her in the role of Rebecca Bloomwood and although Hugh Dancy didn’t quiet look like the image I had of Luke Brandon in my head, they both delivered solid performances.
Let me first clarify… I love Isla Fisher. She is charming, funny, goofy, and very talented. I have enjoyed her in just about everything I have seen her in. However, she didn’t fit the image of the young girl living way beyond her means in London that Sophie Kinsella portrayed in her book. Maybe that is because the movie jumps right in with her living in New York city and skips the back story of London all together… I missed that aspect of the story and honesty, I think with it missing, the movie just didn’t meet my expectations.
This was another case where the book was way better than the movie. Sure, the performances were fun, the story was enjoyable, and the movie was watchable, but it still lands with an average 3.33 rating from me.
Nina Soden 