Confessions of a Shopaholic is based on the books “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and “Shopaholic Takes Manhattan” by Sophie Kinsella. The film adaptation takes to screen in a similar way to Bridget Jones’s Diary, yet has the sophistication of Cake, starring Heather Graham. P.J. Hogan, who brought us Muriel’s Wedding, My Best Friend’s Wedding and Peter Pan, takes the reins on Confessions of a Shopaholic.
Isla Fisher (Definitely, Maybe) stars as Rebecca Bloomwood and is supported by Hugh Dancy (Jane Austen’s Book Club). This is her first lead role in a feature film and she’s surrounded by a well-known cast of cameos: John Goodman, Joan Cusack, Kristin Scott Thomas, Krysten Ritter and John Lithgow. This comedy romance has potential, but Confessions of a Shopaholic doesn’t have enough emotional depth and misses the mark with its superficial content.
Confessions of a Shopaholic sounds like a winning formula on paper. Fresh starlets, Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy are able to spread their wings in more significant roles alongside a host of established stars, while P.J. Hogan harnesses their exuberance from behind-the-camera with layered subplots in a much-anticipated book adaptation. Isla Fisher gives a flamboyant performance, which is funny, ditsy and over-the-top at times. She’s a likable character, who’s cute and out there, so it’s easy to sympathise with her. Fisher stars opposite Dancy, who has a strong screen presence comparable with Hugh Grant. The two make a smart couple and its fun to see them wrestling their relationship from the work environment to the playing field. However, the story isn’t focused on the couple of the hour… it’s spread over career, shopping, love, family and friendships. This thins the script and makes the whole outing seem a little superficial as Rebecca makes loose connections with each character.
The movie is entertaining, yet struggles to submerse its audience in the story. The whole production is difficult to identify with and it becomes even more difficult to connect with its double-glazed story. The lack of human connection is furthered by outrageous slapstick scenes, which add to the comedy, but alienate the audience. The story blends fantasy and reality in an Ally McBeal style, by animating window display mannequins. The mix is rare and distances the character with several references to them. Isla Fisher’s performance is spot-on when it comes to the comedy, yet seems a little insincere when it comes to romance. The end result is that the whole story feels like you’re watching from a window. The movie’s content doesn’t warrant anything longer than 90 minutes, however its multi-layered subplots carry Confessions of a Shopaholic about 15 minutes too long.
The production has potential and it’s a pity that the film tried to cram so much into the story, without building one or two main plot points. The performances are good and the direction is consistent, although the editing is choppy and the writing lacks substance. Confessions of a Shopaholic doesn’t carry the same connection as Bridget Jones’s Diary, yet manages to deliver a soft-sell message, which is a hot consumer topic in today’s economic environment. If you’re in the mood for a light romantic jaunt with a sweetheart, then Confessions of a Shopaholic is your ticket to ride. If you’d like something with a little more substance then you should probably stick with Bridget Jones’s Diary or The Devil Wears Prada.
The bottom line: Ditsy.
