Archive for August 31st, 2010

Chick Flick Tuesday highlights the best chick flicks in the movie world as well as bringing you news on upcoming chick flick releases as well as letting you all know about which chick lit books are being made into chick flick movies!

Due to it being ‘Sophie Kinsella Week’ here on Chicklitreviews.com, it can’t be any other movie for Chick Flick Tuesday than Confessions of a Shopaholic! The film is of course based on the first ever Shopaholic book by Sophie Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and has had fans divided over it ever since it was released a few years ago!

Chloe: Personally, I quite enjoyed it, it was funny and kept me amused, but I think Hugh Dancy as Luke Brandon was miscast, and that it could have been a lot better! However, people who haven’t read the book will probably enjoy it (I know quite a few of these people who have really liked it), and it’s a fun enough watch! Whether you have loved or hated the film - do comment and let us know! - it was a long time coming for fans of the book, and I for one am glad it happened!

Leah: I actually didn’t like the movie. I was so much looking forward to it and I had such high expectations that I was just incredibly disappointed with the outcome. I just don’t understand why they decided to make Becky an American. It didn’t work for me, not when Becky is quintessentially British. I also felt Hugh Dancy was wildly mis-cast as Luke Brandon. Does he really look like someone who could be CEO of a huge company? No, I didn’t think so. They needed someone a bit stronger who could have a bit more of a force in the film, someone in the mold of David Boreanaz. For me, it was ruined the moment they decided to make it into a run-of-the-mill American chick flick.

Danielle: To be honest, I quite disliked this version of one of my favorite books ever. Being an American, I actually quite like British films and literature, and though I’m not opposed to “American” films I wish they would have stuck with the “British” feel from the book. In that way it seemed to lack a bit in the romance department and lean a bit too heavily on campy-humor. It was definitely still a very fun film, but if you have to choose, I’d say go with the book!

“Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom - but she’s never looked better! She has a fabulous flat in New York’s trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season’s must-haves. The only trouble is that she can’t actually afford any of it.

Her job writing for a financial magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn’t pay much at all. Hounded by letters from her credit card company Becky tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds.

Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyses a chain of events that will transform her life and the lives of those around her forever.”

Rebecca Bloomwood has the dream job. She’s a personal shopper, so is able to spend other people’s money all day instead of her own. And she gets paid for doing it. The perfect job, the perfect man - gorgeous Luke Brandon - and now…the perfect wedding. Yes, Luke has proposed and wedding bells are in sight. No excuses are needed to start the shopping trip of all time. And Becky’s parents are just assuming that the wedding will be at home - a marquee in the garden and Becky in her mum’s wedding dress, which she’s been saving specially for the occasion. But Luke’s mother has very different ideas - a huge affair in New York in a forest glade setting - or perhaps a Venetian Ball, or a fin de siecle extravagance? Now Becky’s getting confused. She doesn’t want to say ‘no’ to anyone. The plans are going ahead, and soon it will be too late to turn back - from either wedding…

Leah: Unlike the previous two books, Shopaholic Ties The Knot isn’t focused solely on shopping. There’s no debt in sight, and whilst Becky does still shop (come on, it’s Becky Bloomwood), it isn’t as hectic or as frenetic as in the first two books. Shopaholic Ties The Knot focuses firmly on Becky and Luke’s wedding and I liked the fact that it was different to the first two books. I can’t say that I have a favourite Shopaholic as I love them all for different reasons but they do keep getting better and better and it was nice to see Becky when she’s not completely consumed by shopping (please note that I did say “not completely consumed”). If you’ve read the other books in the series you really ought to pick this one up and if you haven’t yet read any of the books, why haven’t you? The series is great and Shopaholic Ties The Knot is a worthy addition!

Chloe: For me, this is one of my favourite Shopaholic books. We see the lovely Becky Bloomwood finally get married to Luke Brandon, but of course, things certainly don’t go to plan. I love how Becky’s fabulous parents are written more into this book because of the wedding, and I think it was nice to see more of Becky in a family situation rather than just completely shopping for a change. I also liked Luke’s mother being more present in this book - it certainly gives Becky someone to bounce and leaves her with some funny dilemmas too! The little drama of where the wedding will be is the icing on the cake, and it definitely one of my fave books in the series! Brilliant!

Danielle: For me, since I’m still making my way through all of the Shopaholic books and have only two more to go, I can’t definitely say this is my favorite (only because of the two remaining), but it certainly ranks up at the top. I’m a romantic at heart and the story of a girl falling in love and struggling with the details. Most who’ve walked down the aisle know how difficult it can be to satiate your mother’s as well as your soon-to-be mother-in-law’s desires with your own. I honestly couldn’t think of anyone better to illustrate the hilarity of the situation than Becky. Her constant ups and downs with the comedy of it all added to the romance of her and Luke, makes it a very near perfect read. If you love Becky and Luke, you can’t miss this one!