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I have never been one for Black Friday shopping. Even in a nonpandemic year, I can’t tolerate the chaos of mass retail. Maybe it’s because I did my college years behind the counter of a shop facing down the general public on a daily basis. Maybe it’s because I prefer my couch and a great movie. But even with an endless supply of goods at my fingertips these days through apps and websites, I still miss shopping in a store.
Here are a few movies either set in shops or with an iconic shopping scene to remind you of better, or at least more shoppable, times.
“Pretty Woman” – Julia Roberts’ hooker with a heart of gold makes a sad first attempt to buy clothes at a Beverly Hills boutique and is rebuffed, but don’t worry. After her rich, um, patron (Richard Gere) steps in to make shopping a bit more fun, she goes back to let the snotty shopwomen know they made a “big mistake – HUGE.”
“Confessions of a Shopaholic” – Isla Fisher stars opposite Hugh Dancy in a romcom set in New York City. Fisher plays a writer who struggles with an addiction to high fashion who lands a job writing advice for a financial publication.
“Empire Records” – A hip-cool crew of young adults – including Liv Tyler and a young Renee Zellweger – manage emotions and expectations along with an attention-seeking shoplifter, a visit from an aging rocker, a missing bank deposit and the potential closing of the record store!
“European Vacation” – Clark Griswold and company toot about Europe to hilarious hijinks. But after all of their luggage is stolen, they find themselves needing new clothes. The ensuing Italian fashion montage is so very Griswold.
“High Fidelity” – Another retail setting in a music store, this one with John Cusack as a fourth-wall-breaking record shop owner who spins his way through some questionable luck in love, with side antics by Jack Black.
Jessica Simpson in “Employee of the Month” (Lionsgate photo)
“Employee of the Month” – Set in a warehouse store, we follow employee interactions centered around a cashier (Jessica Simpson), who may or may not have a thing for go-getter Employee of the Month types (Dax Shepard), and a stockman (Dane Cook) who has his eyes on the title.
“Clerks” – Rated R for Raunchy, but a classic in its own right, this convenience-store-set comedy features a devil-may-care clerk named Randall, his perennially harassed co-worker Dante and the coterie of crazy characters who revolve around the store – including the indelible Jay and Silent Bob.
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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