Shopping: a woman's dream, a man's nightmare.
Crammed wall to wall with clothing, a store can be intimidating for many; but for Rebecca Bloomwood, a sweet and charming New York City journalist, a store is heaven.
Clad with several credit cards, each signifying a piece of her opening wardrobe, Bloomwood (played flawlessly by Isla Fisher) graces the screen with poise and confidence. Her clothing, all belonging to the year's finest fashion designers, screams at you from across the street, getting your attention and keeping it as she walks briskly by you and into her office at...at gardening magazine.
But that won't last for long. Within the film's first twenty minutes, the company goes under and Rebecca is stuck without a job, without a man and with bills totaling over $16,000. But like any good girl would do, Rebecca goes out and applies for her dream job at a fashion magazine. Instead, she winds up writing for 'Super Savings,' a finance magazine.
It is here that the film finally introduces us to our lead's main love interest, editor Luke Brandon, played by Hugh Dancy. Together, the two will join forces and trying to break free of the magazine's past stereotype, bringing finance advice to the common person. And while the film's story knocks on the door of unique during its first 45 minutes, it plummets to the ground during the last half, creating a 'Tale of Two Cities' like story.
But in all retrospect, the film never fully relies on the story. Instead, it focuses in on its characters. Rebecca is young, innocent and overly perky. Her life, revolving solely around shopping, is hilarious from the onset. She drools at the windows, basking in the beauty and tranquility that comes with the clothes that sit on the mannequin; not to mention the expressions of bittersweet joy that comes with every transaction approval on her many maxed out plastic cards. It is these small things that make our lead character adorable, and her striking beauty that helps keep men glued to the screen.
However, it is the performance by Isla Fisher that truly sells the film. Her wit and charm throughout the first half of the film is simply irresistible. Her delivery, fresh and light, brings a smile to your face as she experiences the art of 'de-clutter' and has a series of irregular appearances at Shopaholics Anonymous. In a nutshell, she is perfect, the ideal spark for a film depending so much on its off the wall comedy.
And it is that spark that gives the film it's core component - the girl with the green scarf. Clad with a unique writing style that connects with the people, Rebecca Bloomwood inspired and intrigues her audience. In the same manner, Isla Fisher intrigues her audience, making Confessions of a Shopaholic a pleasant, though generic Valentine's delight.
