Last night I went to se Confessions of a Shopaholic with my aunt and mom. I was really excited about this movie, I’ve read all of the books twice and LOVED them. I thought they were hilarious and couldn’t put them down. I think Sophie Kinsella (or Madeline Wickham) or whatever her name is, is one funny lady.
Spoiler Alert: In my opinion, the movie absolutely butchered the book. It’s been a couple years since I read it but I remember laughing out loud several times during the book and I didn’t find the movie all that funny. As much as I like Isla Fisher I didn’t buy her as Becky Bloomwood, first of all, she wasn’t British. I think the fact that the book took place in London is an important part the movie left out. Maybe they were trying to merge it with the Shopaholic takes Manhattan book or something. I don’t know, but it did not work out very well.
Also, what is with Luke being the editor of the magazine? It’s been a few years since I read the book, so correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Becky already work for the finance magazine and Luke already owned Brandon Communications when they met? Not that those are extremely important details but I just don’t see why they felt the need to change them.
Finally, I wouldn’t say I’m the most fashion-minded person in the world, but for the most part the movie’s wardrobe sucked. I found most of it tacky and not stylish at all, maybe that was the point, I don’t know. All I know for sure is that Hollywood has, once again, ruined an amazing book by making it into a movie. I beg of you, read the books BEFORE you see the movie, they are really, really good books. As for the movie, I absolutely would not recommend it to anyone especially other book fans!
Have you guy’s seen it? What do you think? If you disagree with me please let me know, I’d love to hear your POV too!
**Images courtesy of Google Images**
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I didn’t really like the books, so I bet I’ll love the movie
I LOVED the books, and your so right , this movie did destroy the book… the movie was cute, but did not meet my HIGH expectations! I have better taste then she did!
PS…SEE YOU TOMORROW!!!!!
Xoxoxox
I actually sort of disagree with you. Maybe it’s because I saw He’s Just Not That Into You right before Confessions and hated it, I’m not sure. This book has been my one of my very favorite books for a long time now, and I knew the movie would not be as good. They NEVER are! It’s just not possible. I was disappointed it wasn’t based in London and that Becky wasn’t British but I guess I came to terms with it all before the movie came out! haha! I didn’t really care for Becky’s wardrobe, it was too flamboyant for my tasted but I think they were just trying to pair her style with her personality.
I liked that they incorporated the green scarf (even though I don’t think it was green in the book… was it?) that was cute.
Anyway, I agree with you. READ THE BOOKS FIRST but I say that about book turned into movies. It just isn’t possible to make it as good, ever!
I actually really liked the movie, even though I absolutely adore the books.
They did try to merge the first and second book, it said that in the opening credits. I think it was a sort of wise idea. I did miss the fact that Becky was British, but I loved Isla Fisher.
I do agree that the clothes were super tacky, but I kind of feel like Becky is supposed to be eccentric.
I thought overall they did a pretty good job, although the books always better.
If I remember right in the book the scarf was kind of a blue-ish green-ish shimmery color. Does that sound right. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but even from the previews you could tell it wasn’t going to be like the book
Ok, so I am DYING to see the movie (and still will regardless, just cause I have to see it).
- and for the record, the scarf was blue grey!
Anyhoo, the FIRST thing I noticed was how atrocious her clothes are in the movie…even in the book they comment on how stylish she is, and when they describe her clothes they aren’t fluorescent orange matched with fuschia…think of her outfit to her neighbors wedding, a fuschia dress with a large fuschia hat…over the top, YES but clashy, no. So I think they went overboard for the movie (it is the same stylist as Sex and the City, so that should explain some of it)…
As for them americanizing it…they do that to everything. Isla Fisher has an AMAZING australian accent and I really think that they should have kept the character british…EVEN if it took place in New York…it sounds like they were trying to go off all the hype from Devil Wears Prada!
NO NO NO NO! I was actually very afraid of that…the commercials looked semi-cheesey. It’s like one of the few series I’ve read so I am sad! Thanks for the update tho b/c I may save my movie going for an oscar nod-movie. And ESPECIALLY thanks for the encouragement! I love that!-next meal is ALWAYS more important. Hey, that’s what the blog is all a/b right?
i want to see this movie so so soo much, but my friends think its for five year olds :\
I haven’t seen the movie yet because well, I’m in China, and they don’t show the movie here; but I’m reading the book right now, and I’m only on Chapter 3 but so far, I love it!
I’m with ya, Amber! While I didn’t LOVE the books, they were WAAAY better than the movie.
1. The book is set in London. The movie’s not.
2. The roomie married her cousin??! WTF? That freaked me out from the very beginning.
3. You’re right–Luke owned his own business and Alicia worked for him and then stabbed him in the back (if memory serves).
4. The clothes were terrible.
5. How did they go from one afternoon at the conference to being a couple? They tried to merge too many story lines together.
Le sigh. The books are always better. I know this. Yet I always hope…
H =)
Haven’t seen it. Haven’t read the books.
Do agree that Hollywood should write an ORIGINAL screenplay and stop stealing books as movies. It’s so ridiculous.
I will read the books and then I’m sure NetFlix the movie at some point.
I haven’t seen it yet, but after reading your review as well as some others’, I think I’ll wait for it to come out on DVD to rent it instead of shelling out for a movie ticket. I didn’t love the books anyway (Sophie Kinsella’s characters always seem to do the DUMBEST things and not be able to admit them), so I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go anyway. However, if you haven’t read “Remember Me?”, her newest book, I did like that one a lot - it was still light and fluffy but a little bit more real.
The movie was quite hilarious.But the ending is not so interesting…You may take your kids to watch this movie together.My average rating would be 6/10.