Confessions of a Shopaholic parents guide

Confessions of a Shopaholic Parent Guide

Nothing calls like the letters S-A-L-E!

Overall A-

Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is in money trouble. The incurable shopaholic has amassed more debts than she can possibly pay. To help the situation, the young woman takes a job as a writer for a magazine that touts the virtues of frugality. But her bad habits may cost her the employment opportunity and the attention of a good-looking co-worker (Hugh Dancy).

Release date February 13, 2009

Violence B
Sexual Content B-
Profanity B-
Substance Use C+

Why is Confessions of a Shopaholic rated PG? The MPAA rated Confessions of a Shopaholic PG for some mild language and thematic elements.

Run Time: 105 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

There are nothing like the letters S-A-L-E to send a shopaholic charging through the inviting doors of a department store. For some, the smell of Italian leather, the sparkle of a new watch or the luxury of a cashmere sweater is too much to resist, although their closet is already stuffed to capacity. Even an excess of less lavish purchases can be a problem for many consumers.

Unfortunately the urge to splurge and the bait of minimal monthly payments has left journalist Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) with a mound of merchandise and a huge balance on her credit card. Unable to confess her addiction to her financially frugal parents (Joan Cusack, John Goodman) or a credit counselor, Rebecca and roommate Suze (Krysten Ritter) drown their worries in a bottle of tequila while opening her growing pile of bills. They also develop an intricate web of lies to avoid the incessant calls of the city debt collector (Robert Stanton).

In the meantime, Rebecca unintentionally gets a job at a financial magazine. Writing a story that explains investments in shopping terms, she becomes an instant sensation with readers of the stuffy periodical. Yet all that money talk—and a membership in a shopaholics anonymous group—does little to curb her desire to spend. As her success soars under the pen name The Lady in the Green Silk Scarf, so does the difficulty of confessing her compulsion to her boss Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy).

However, as to be expected, the truth comes out at the most awkward moment. With her personal foibles publicly exposed, this up-and-coming journalist is forced to face the brunt of her buying obsession.

Doubtless there will be more than one audience member who can relate to Rebecca’s love of shopping and the high that comes with a new purchase. Fortunately the plot doesn’t waver when it comes to the consequences. Leaving her to suffer the pang of buyer’s remorse allows this heroine to confront the reality of her situation and the pain that her lies have caused for herself and others as well.

Rounded out with engaging secondary characters and storylines, the film questions the things we allow to define us, be it a family name, labels or the number of toys we own. Making an equally bold statement in this era of economic downturn, the mannequins in the windows of an Yves Saint Laurent storefront and an Asprey boutique applaud Rebecca’s effort to refuse their lures.

While it all wraps up rather neatly and predictably, Confessions of a Shopaholic offers a plentitude of thought provoking insights into the current credit crisis and the reality of shopping addictions. Yet it manages to do so in a manner that is both entertaining and encouraging.

Starring Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, P.J. Hogan . Running time: 105 minutes. Theatrical release February 13, 2009. Updated

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Rating & Content Info

Why is Confessions of a Shopaholic rated PG? Confessions of a Shopaholic is rated PG by the MPAA for some mild language and thematic elements.

While social drinking is a regular activity for many of the characters in this film, others use alcohol to the point of inebriation, as a way to deal with stress. An unmarried couple is shown lying together in bed. Brief sexual comments and innuendo are included. The script contains mild comedic injuries and falls. A woman slaps a man. Short skirts and low-cut tops are shown. Language includes mild and moderate profanities as well as terms of Christian Deity.

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Confessions of a Shopaholic Parents' Guide

Although Rebecca is obsessed with having the right label on her clothes, Luke doesn’t want to be defined by brands or his family name. What things do you allow to define you? How do you identify cost versus worth when it comes to financial decisions?

While Rebecca finds an answer to her money woes, how might that solution contribute to the ongoing financial problems of others? What kinds of help are available to people facing debt or credit problems? What is the difference between a shopping spree and an addiction?

Although Rebecca was raised by financially frugal parents, her approach to money is far different from theirs. What childhood experiences impacted her feelings about buying? How can people’s upbringing influence, either one way or the other, their attitudes about spending?

With the country and individuals facing a credit crisis, the National Endowment of Financial Education has launched a new website designed to help shopaholics and others deal with debt and shopping sprees. For information on how to curtail your retail hangover check out Spendster.org.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Confessions of a Shopaholic movie is June 23, 2009. Here are some details…

Release Date: 23 June 2009

You can purchase Confessions of a Shopaholic on DVD, in either widescreen or full frame presentations. Either edition offers audio tracks in Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French and Spanish). Bonus materials include: deleted scenes, bloopers, and a music video (Stuck With Each Other by Shontelle and featuring Akon).

If your credit card can bare it, Confessions of a Shopaholic is also available on Blu-ray. Disc one contains the theatrical release of the movie and disc two is a digital copy.

Related home video titles:

Patricia Field is the costume designer for this movie and the fashion flick The Devil Wears Prada. Hugh Dancy plays a prince who has a difficult time impressing his princess in Ella Enchanted. He also stars as the lone man who joins The Jane Austen Book Club.