Isla Fisher Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Isla Fisher Gets Involved With Princes and Life Coaches
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting », Deals », Universal », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking »
You can't keep a spunky redhead down, even after she's confessed to being a shopaholic. After being unfairly painted as the poster child of conspicuous consumption, Isla Fisher has moved on and scored a one-two punch of comedies. Variety reports that Fisher has signed on to star and produce in Life Coach, and to star in an untitled romantic comedy for Universal.Life Coach is centers on a woman who hires a (shocker!) life coach to sort her life out. In a twist of twists, the life coach is more messed up than she is. On the outside, it looks like it could be a very typical girl comedy (wacky job, problematic boyfriend, credit card debt), but it is being co-produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Chris Henchy, and is being penned by Liz`Cackowski and Maggie Carrey. I think it might actually be a little more offbeat and more along the lines of Funny or Die, and not fall into a romantic comedy trap. An actual comedy starring a woman would be a nice thing to find outside of television's 30 Rock.
The same probably can't be said for Fisher's other gig at Universal. The untitled romantic comedy is based on a French script titled Un Jour mes princes viendront (Some Day My Princes Will Come). Universal wouldn't reveal the plotline, but I'm making the wild guess that it involves a girl looking for Prince Charming, or even more than one Prince Charming. The script is being penned by Audrey Wells, who has made a recent specialty of plots centered around individuals trying to decide to navigate love and life. But there's always the possibility of being surprised by a hearts-and-flowers script, so I'll refrain from criticizing and hope that both scripts offer an opportunity for Fisher to shine as a comedic talent.
Fan Rant: No Shopping on Cinema Screens!
Filed under: Classics », Comedy », Romance », Celebrities and Controversy », Newsstand », Fan Rant »
I feel bad for you, Isla Fisher. I may have bashed your ridiculous movie in a rant, but I can't believe that everyone is making such a big deal about you playing a confessed shopaholic. Such was my distaste for the film that I initially agreed with everyone mocking its economic ill-timing, and laughed along with them. (The best quote is from Time: "But as an ill-timed anthropological artifact, Confessions offers weird pleasures, not least among them the fact that it makes us root for the debt collector.") Then I came across this Sarah Jessica Parker quote from Access Hollywood pondering how a Sex in the City sequel would avoid a Shopaholic trap. "How do we address these economic times in a franchise that has a lot to do with luxury and labels? How do we do that well? And how do we do that in a not lazy way? There is a lot that we have to think about because times are very different. So these are nice challenges, these are good challenges."
My first thought upon reading that? Gold lame gowns and the Marx Brothers. While I've tried in vain to find if a Marx Brothers film actually features the delectable costume I'm thinking of (if it does exist, it has to be in Animal Crackers or The Cocoanuts), the point is a historical one. The Great Depression was the era of the screwball comedy, and the majority of them took place among the creme de la creme of society. There's jewels and fabulous gowns galore, piles of money, and champagne being chugged by the gallons. The Carole Lombard and Claudette Colbert heiresses are arguably ill-timed anthropological artifacts, but people couldn't get enough of them -- and this was during years when people were starving to death, when theaters handed out bread along with tickets. But people lost themselves in tales of the rich falling in and out of love, and undoubtedly loved the sheer glamour portrayed onscreen.
Review: Confessions of a Shopaholic
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Disney », Theatrical Reviews »
I keep hearing concern that it is grossly inappropriate and perhaps even irresponsible to release a movie with a title like Confessions of a Shopaholic during the current economic downturn. I didn't find that to be an issue. My concern is that during an economic crisis, I want far more escapist fare than this adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's novel, which is far too lame and annoying to make me forget about my own little fiscal crises.
The biggest problem with Confessions of a Shopaholic is that the main character, Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher), is even dumber than the store mannequins she imagines are beckoning her to buy things she can't afford. I nearly stopped reading the book mid-Chapter 2 because I wanted to smack Rebecca for her unbelievable cluelessness. Rebecca is just as flaky in the movie, and worse yet, never reaches even the tiny level of self-awareness of her counterpart in the book. Maybe the point is that you can feel happily superior to her, but I don't find that especially enjoyable.
Isla Fisher Joins Johnny Depp in 'Rango'
Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Casting », Paramount », Family Films », Newsstand », Johnny Depp »
This fall, Johnny Depp rejoined his Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski for Rango, which casts him in the role of household pet. (Yes, you can drool here, girls.) Last week, he was joined by Abigail Breslin, though her role was left unspecified. It was also unclear whether the film would be a combination of live action and stop-motion CG, or completely computer animated.MTV got the scoop as to what we're in for -- and met a new castmember. The lovely Isla Fisher has joined the cast, and will be voicing a lizard that Depp's critter encounters on his travels. Ian Abercrombie and Hemky Madera have also joined the cast.
Fisher also revealed that the entire film will be filmed in a pretty unusual manner. The actors will film their performances, but rather than serving as the basis for motion capture, they'll merely serve as aide to the animators capturing their movements and facial expressions. It's something more elaborate than the usual camera-in-a-sound-booth approach that has been used for decades -- and really, might be some combination of motion capture and animation. Earlier, Verbinski described it as cutting-edge animation techniques that "will allow us to capture and translate every aspect of Johnny's performance, using it to drive the computer-generated character in a way that has yet to be seen in an animated feature." It's one to watch out for -- and we'll find out what they're talking about sometime in 2011, when Rango is set to be released.
Isla Fisher Makes Some Confessions in 'Shopaholic' Trailer
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Disney », Trailers and Clips »
The fairly adorable Isla Fisher may have already won some hearts in this past February's Definitely, Maybe, but now she's developed a taste for the Prada lifestyle in next February's Confessions of a Shopholic, the trailer for which we've embedded above (sorry that it's slightly squeezed).
I'm a little less sure what the name of producer Jerry Bruckheimer is doing on this next big chick-lit adaptation -- which looks like The Devil Wears Prada infused with Legally Blonde and some ungainly slapstick -- though the man did make some modest bucks off of Coyote Ugly back in the summer of '00. Though next winter seems slight in terms of fluffy rom-com-petition, this puppy will be facing off against the considerable star power of He's Just Not That Into You for Valentine's Day box office glory.
However, with any luck, this role could prove that Fisher is the next Amy Adams (or, at the very least, someone not to be merely mistaken for her).
First Pic of Isla's First 'Shopaholic'
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Disney », Movie Marketing », Images »
To be honest, I kind of have the same aversion to the term 'Chick Lit' as I do with 'Chick Flick.' So, you can understand why I am not all that familiar with Madeleine Wickham's Shopoholic novels. The five-part series was optioned by Disney back in 2004, and last August they hired Isla Fischer for the lead. Just Jared is now posting some behind-the-scenes (aka paparazzi) photos of the actress hard at work. Plus, she is wearing what is possibly the ugliest bridesmaid dress I have ever seen -- which is probably the source of some comedy, or at least I hope it is.Confessions of a Shopaholic centers on a young college grad (Fisher) who lands a sweet job as a high-profile financial journalist in New York City. However, like any romantic comedy, career fulfillment ain't what it used to be. So, of course, our heroine falls in love with a wealthy entrepreneur. Oh, and did I mention she shops a lot? Hopefully Fisher is going to make this gal more charming on screen than she sounds on paper, because so far, I am not loving this story.
On the upside -- P.J. Hogan (director of Muriel's Wedding) is helming the romcom. So, at least there is a glimmer of something a little more complex than the usual 'girly fluff.' Muriel's Wedding should be required viewing for anyone that wants to make a so-called 'chick flick.' Hogan makes fully fleshed out characters, has a biting sense of humor, and makes happy endings that you don't have to feel guilty about loving. Confessions of a Shopaholic is scheduled to hit theaters on February 13th, 2009 -- just in time for Valentine's Day.
Joan Cusack & John Goodman Want to Be Shopaholics Too!
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting »
After delays presumably linked to the little tot that Isla Fisher just had with Sacha Baron Cohen, the adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic has finally gone into production -- with some shopaholic-breeding parents along for the ride. Variety reports that Joan Cusack and John Goodman have signed on to play Rebecca's (Fisher) parental units in the comedy.I say "Yay!" to the casting, because Joan and not-brother John are great, but oh, I love how real-life ages never really factor in. That is, unless Joan's character had the money-obsessed daughter in her early teens. Joan is 45, and Isla is 32. Luckily, the credit card-addicted heroine of the film is 25. This is just like The Graduate, where Anne Bancroft was only 6 years older than Dustin Hoffman, when she was really supposed to be old enough to be his mother.
Anyhow, this shallow shopping extravaganza is currently shooting in New York and Connecticut, and is scheduled to hit theaters just in time for Cupid's next holiday on February 13, 2009.
Review: Definitely, Maybe
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », New Releases », Universal », Theatrical Reviews »
Several things conspire to make Definitely, Maybe seem a dicey proposition at first glance. There's the rarely-inspiring presence of Ryan Reynolds, whose film career has, up to now, moved between mediocre comedies and mediocre action and horror films and served mostly as a demonstration of the phenomenon of 'failing up.' There's also the gimmicky nature of the pitch giving off warning signs, as divorcing dad Reynolds tells his daughter Abigail Breslin the story of his life before he got married, shielding names and facts so she can't figure out which of the three women (Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Banks or Rachel Weisz) he knew and loved when he was single came to be her mother. "I like it," Breslin says early in the film, appraising Reynolds's efforts. "It's like a love story-mystery." And even that's a somewhat off-putting moment; Gee, kid, thanks for pointing that out for us.
But Definitely, Maybe, written and directed by Adam Brooks, surprised me as it unfolded, and got around my initial reservations with its mix of good humor and grace. Not only is Reynolds an appealing lead here -- possibly because the boyishness that's undercut his other work is an integral part of his character – but Definitely, Maybe also has some grit and gristle under the glib gimmick of the mommy-mystery hook. As Reynolds explains the long and winding road of what happened and when, Brooks's script mostly doesn't shy away from the tough stuff, and it doesn't paint Reynolds as some perfect, hapless everyman undone by random chance; he makes mistakes, and he pays for them, and he tries to set things right. Reynolds is normally light and charming enough on screen, but there's something new in his performance here, as his inner feelings keep coming into view behind his smile.
Dancy and Ritter are Also 'Shopaholics'
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting »
Back in August, Isla Fisher was tapped to head the big-screen adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's bestselling novel Confessions of a Shopaholic, which was going to be filmed under the British title, The Secret Dream World of a Shopaholic. Now the film is back to its US title, has a new start date popping up next month, and more cast to revel in the world of shopping along with Fisher. The Hollywood Reporter has posted that Hugh Dancy and Krysten Ritter have signed on to co-star.Shopaholic, which is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Muriel's Wedding helmer PJ Hogan, is about a woman named Rebecca (Fisher), who works as a financial journalist in New York City -- one who writes for "Successful Saving." While most of her life is on the up and up, Rebecca has a serious shopping addiction that she can't afford, so she has to find "creative solutions" to kill her debt. And, since this is a romcom, she also falls for a successful entrepreneur she's covering for the magazine. One, perhaps, that can afford her over-the-top shopping ways?
The Jane Austen Book Club member Hugh Dancy won't be the object of Isla's affection, but rather the editor of her magazine. Ritter, meanwhile, will play her best friend, Suze. Ritter is also "Gina the Goth" in the upcoming romcom 27 Dresses, but is probably better known for her roles on Veronica Mars (the exuberant Gia Goodman) and Gilmore Girls (the also-exuberant Lucy). Now all we need is Rebecca's romantic interest, and the film will be set to shoot next month in New York and Connecticut.
Isla Fisher to Become a 'Shopaholic'
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting »
I was watching Talladega Nights the other day and start griping about Isla Fisher. Why? Sheer jealousy of course -- her being engaged to Sacha Baron Cohen. Anyway, a friend asked me who the hell I was talking about, and I explained that she was the bubbly model replacement for the bonnet-wearing Naomi Watts in I Heart Huckabees. My other friend then told me I was crazy and explained that she was also the girl from the Wedding Crashers. I can't help it. Every time I think of her, I remember her as the replacement model. Now, along with a new kid, she's getting a big starring role -- JoBlo has posted that she's signed on to star in The Secret Dream World of a Shopaholic. This is the movie adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic. (Why would they make the name longer?)Fisher will play Rebecca Bloomwood, a college grad who makes a living working as a financial journalist in the Big Apple. Most things are going well, except that she's struggling with a terrible shopping addiction. Her bills increase well beyond her means and "she's forced to creatively find solutions to her mounting debt while falling in love with a highly successful entrepreneur she's highlighting for the magazine." Sounds like a perfect match to me -- although we'll have to see how she does as a financial journalist. The adaptation was written by Tracey Jackson (The Guru) and PJ Hogan (Muriel's Wedding and My Best Friend's Wedding), so that should bode well for the production.
Now, this is where I get confused -- they say that filming will begin this November. Fisher's already pretty round, and she's expecting her baby this winter, so I'm not sure how they're going to pull this all off -- unless the start date is just some misinformation. If she's a pregnant financial journalist and shopaholic in New York, well that would be...interesting.
Oh yeah, and she's cute. (Scott made me say that.)
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