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It’s funny how Hollywood apparently were aware of the financial crisis coming as we not only are getting thrillers in which bankers are the root of all evil but now also a movie tackling the consumer who just keeps putting everything on their credit card. It was a matter of time I guess since getting yourself in debt seemed to be the national sport and finally it’s clear where all those scenes in other movies, where people are waving with Gold Cards around, have now led us to. This sounds all a bit negative and harsh right? Well lucky us then, that Confessions Of A Shopaholic is a comedy, one of the romantic kind. So you know that not only the lead character Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) has to try to get out of debt she also has to win over the affection of a guy involved. Will they live debt free happily ever after ?
You probably know the answer to that question but these movies are not about their outcome but the road to it and the hurdles one has to take. In this case an addiction. I’ve always learned that you can not spend what you do not have. Seems my parents were lying to me but at this point I’m glad they did. Rebecca is taught early as a kid that money isn’t a requirement, just some plastic will do fine. Best of all: you can get them for free and easy. Rebecca becomes one of those materialists who buys everything that she thinks is required. Even the mannequins talk to her about how much she so needs that scarf or those shoes. At this point the movie quite accurately shows how someone addicted goes through life; having an excuse at all times for her decisions and behavior. The down-side isn’t neglected; as a comic relief there is a debt collector who desperately tries to catch up with Rebecca as those credit card bills eventually have to be paid.
The movie tackles the subject lightly and the whole detoxing is just a matter of only auctioning off your stuff. So people who are expecting some serious drama about addictions are better of anywhere else. It’s a shame though becuase I would really love to see a movie handling a shopaholic seriously because these people do exist. Actually, an addiction like these gets people into deep trouble. It’s maybe not lethal, but it is a problem. Could you imagine a romantic comedy about a heroine addiction or an alcohol problem? Oh wait, I forgot 28 days. Nevermind.
As a comedy the movie succeeds just fine. Nothing groundbreaking of course and certainly not making you burst out in laughter from time to time but the movie does have its charm and generates a smile every now and then.
