Shopaholic [DVD]

First off I should say that Romantic Comedies are not my thing at all. It is my least favorite genre and almost all romantic comedy films make me gag. But this film had the opposite effect on me. It is cute, funny, and the sentimentality isn't so over the top as to make you want to puke. I first saw this movie in italy (dubbed in italian) and thought it was so cute and funny. Then when I got back to America I saw it again in English with some friends and they enjoyed it just as much as my italian friends. It's not as predictable as other rom coms because it is a well written script and the acting is wonderful. Virtually all rom-coms have the whole "lets pretend act like we hate each other or don't have feelings for each other when we really want to jump each other's bones and you know soon we will be doing just that because it's a rom-com" vibe. In this movie though there is no attraction between the main characters in the beginning. They don't hate each other or pretend to either. The man just honestly believes the girl is a twit at first and the girl just honestly believes the guy doesn't give her the chance she deserves. We get to see the honest unfolding of two people's respect for one another grow... and it is from that respect comes attraction and love.One of the problems with making a movie based on a book is that people who read the book first will always want the movie to match it. Well movies can't for the most part match the books their based on, unless the movie is willing to be at least 6 hours long. They are two separate mediums and should be treated as such. This was a great script (almost an oxymoron when you're talking about romantic comedy. Almost none are written well). Just done well over all.

Anyone who has watched an addiction slowly ruin every part of a loved one's, or their own life-and destroy the lives of everyone who loves them in the process (barrel of laughs, guys),will NOT think this movie is "hilarious." I considered it a drama with some funny scenes.Yet it's a great film about compulsive shopping destroying the life of a young woman named Rebecca. It's about her addiction causing her partner to be about to lose his whole career. It's about her addiction causing her loving parents to be on the verge of losing over $13,000.It's about Rebecca breaking her best friend's heart when the friend is sold out to Rebecca's addiction And it's about watching Rebecca live like a hunted animal because an unethical bill collector is stalking her and trying to sabotage her employment.All the while the story is peppered with humorous scenes and is aesthetically pleasing, especially to anyone who loves clothes.I won't give away the ending other than to say "Confessions of a Shopaholic" gives a lot of hope to anyone now in the chains of their own or someone else's addiction.Additionally it educates people in that situation about what to expect when they walk into that first support group meeting.I recommend it for anyone but especially those distressed because an addiction has them or someone they love in it's grip.Whether one's addiction is to shopping,alcohol,another drug, gambling,eating,or anything else,the same principles apply as to how the addiction takes over one aspect after another of peoples' lives.By the time Rebecca realizes the chains are there,they have already become too tight for her to get herself free without help.The lives of her best friend and her boyfriend have to get completely crazy before they realize there's a problem.The same principles also apply to the ways people controlled by addictions regain control of their lives, whatever the addiction may be.(Although if one's addiction is to a chemical there may be psychological AND physical addiction.Thus someone with a chemical addiction may need the added steps of medical care.People addicted to shopping or gambling can get by with much less medical attention.)This is an easy-to-watch,encouraging story about a dead serious topic.You can watch "Days of Wine and Roses" another night.

Love this movie.

This is a top 3 movie for me. Have seen at least 5 times. So cute, fun, and inspirational.