Confessions of a Shopaholic

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Confessions of a Shopaholic Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Labels and products galore in frothy book-based romcom.

PG 2009 112 minutes
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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 15 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 53 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that although most of the content in this by-the-book romantic comedy is age-appropriate for older tweens and young teens (there's little swearing and drinking and no nudity or violence), it's swimming in consumerism and high-end product placement and reinforces some broad stereotypes about women. Despite being chastened in the end, the main character seems downright naïve -- and a tad unapologetic -- about her shop-'til-you're-bankrupt ways. Kids may enjoy the fantasy, but parents may find that the frothy "escapism" feels out of place in these unsettled economic times.

Community Reviews

overviwemedia
overviwemedia Adult
October 2, 2021
age 13+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
LtTawnyMadison
LtTawnyMadison Adult
November 4, 2020
age 14+

Intended audience is women (not tweens), and has a GOOD message (not bad)!

Before saying why I think this movie is well worth watching, I want to correct some misunderstandings about this movie. First, this is NOT a movie "aimed at tweens." I LOVE the Young Adult (YA) genre and have enjoyed countless YA books and movies, and this movie is NOT YA. This is clearly a very genre-typical rom-com for WOMEN, as is the book it's based on. Thus the heavier drinking, under-the-sheets scene, and the addiction that the movie centers around. Second, the message of this movie is that overspending is NOT a good thing. Far from glorifying it, the big takeaway message is supposed to be that it can totally wreck your life, as it did the main character's! And that brings me to why this is a very worthy movie. I myself have a spending addiction, and I actually had to pause the movie and go cry at the very first scene. It's of the heroine as a girl with her practical mom getting her ugly but cheap shoes, and this exact thing happened to me with shoes, clothes, and my first pair of glasses. And like her, I got teased about it. As the movie progressed I was surprised at how much I could relate to her. So this movie is not just shallowly poking fun; it does show how much havoc this can wreak in your life, as well as the fact that material possessions should not be what define you. It also shows the pitfalls of consumer credit, and even how underhanded debt collectors can be. It is all couched in a silly plot and a ton of slapstick humor which can make it seem too fluffy (though I personally enjoyed that). So, if you watch this WITH your teen, and discuss these things, it can teach them some lessons. Though of course there are plenty of other ways to learn those lessons--but if they are leaning toward being materialistic, this could be really helpful. If you want to read my more detailed Amazon review, search for "a shopaholic's review" and it's the one by Tawny Madison. P.S. I was truly confounded by CSM's review of this, whose main complaint was that it makes shopping sprees look like a bad thing--which means they don't like it because it DOESN'T glorify materialism! Um, what??

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After a chance encounter, twentysomething writer Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) leaves her boring job at a trade publication behind for a stint at Successful Savings, a money magazine she hopes will be a stepping stone to her dream job at Vogue-like style tome Alette. Rebecca's a diehard fashionista with a talent for churning out readable, enjoyable copy -- a skill that has turned her into something of a finance guru. Ironically, she pays for her chic splurges with credit cards, and she's so woefully in debt that a collector's nipping at her Manolos. How will she outwit him and prevent her handsome editor, Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy), from discovering that she's a finance "whiz" who may be destined for the poorhouse?

Is It Any Good?

Here's the question that runs through your mind after watching CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC: Is that all there is to it? (Which makes it a little like shopping on credit cards.) Delightful in parts but regrettably not as a whole, the movie can't seem to decide what audiences should take away from it. The shopping segments are all Sex and the City-style aspiration, but the guilt is soon heaped on in piles. What, then, is the point of dwelling on the buying binges? Had the movie amped up the fantasy part and toned down the finger-wagging, it would've been first-class escapism. As it stands, it's a lot like having your credit card denied at the checkout -- oh, what a buzz kill!

Fisher tries hard to make a go of the enterprise, but she can't rescue the film's flawed script. A jumble of plot points raises the stakes but doesn't pay off, characters who seem important early on disappear later, and nearly every role is a romcom stereotype -- the eccentric-but-lovable lead; the gawky, fun best friend; the slightly brooding, self-serious romantic interest. It's too bad, really, because on paper, Shopaholic had the makings of a blockbuster: inspired by bestselling novels, beautiful New York as its backdrop, and a stellar cast (especially supporting players like John Goodman and Joan Cusack). It's an impulse buy you may not fully regret, but one you won't love, either.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Rebecca's nonstop shopping and spending. Is her behavior really all that unusual, or do lots of people overspend? What makes shopping so addictive for some people? And what are the real-life consequences of behavior like Rebecca's? Do you think the movie makes her behavior seem acceptable? Is she intended to be a role model? If so, what "lessons" is she teaching teen girls about responsibility? In the end, what message do you think the movie sends teens about the importance of high-end brands and having lots of stuff?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love fun, girl-centered flicks

Themes & Topics

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