SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE REVIEW
 
SEX AND THE CITY: A FILM ONLY A FAN COULD LOVE
It has been four years since the HBO hit series signed off and the Manolos are back. It’s fun to see the girls and the wonderful fashion stylings of Patricia Field back in true form. Too bad the writing and fluidity of the show hasn’t followed through to the big screen. It is a fun romp but it doesn’t have the same appeal as it once did.
It has been a few years since the last time we saw Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). Not much has changed. Carrie has settled into a comfortable relationship with John Preston (Chris Noth), aka Mr. Big. Samantha is living in Malibu with Smith (Jason Lewis) as his publicist. Charlotte and husband Harry (Evan Handler) are still happily married with adopted daughter Lily (Alexandra and Parker Fong). And Miranda is still in Brooklyn with husband Steve (David Eigenberg) and son Brady (Joseph Pupo). When Carrie and Big decide to move in together, the place they find is over Carrie’s budget. When Big buys it, Carrie gets nervous and tells him she wants to put in her money so she can have her name on it also. This leads to them to becoming engaged. That sends Carrie, Big, and her girlfriends on a rollercoaster of events that may or may not leave them with a happy ending.
The television show was witty, fun, and had an ease about it. The movie’s plot does not have the same flow. The majority of the scenes felt forced and without real emotion. You know these girls are there for each other every step of the way. But that is due to the television show. It felt like writer/director Michael Patrick King was trying to shove an entire season worth of episodes into the movie. That would account for the almost two and a half hour long running time. And the attention to detail was lacking. Mr. Big has lost his arrogance and swagger that makes him Mr. Big. He has been reduced to Carrie’s puppy dog who is pathetic and afraid of commitment. He cares about what people think of him. And in one scene he is wearing so much bronzer that he looks orange. The Mr. Big I know and love is confident no matter what. And throwing together the two gay characters, Stanford (Willie Garson) and Anthony (Mario Cantone) is a cheap ploy. These two men couldn’t stand each other on the show. And Stanford had a hottie boyfriend named Marcus. Maybe I am being a stickler for detail, but I feel that I am just voicing what many fans will be thinking.
The girls are a joy to watch. Sarah Jessica Parker’s energy is infectious along with her laugh. Kim Cattrall still has her swagger and sexuality. Kristin Davis is still a goody two shoes that we can love. But Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda has lost some of her backbone. But that maybe what marriage has done to her. The clothes are absolutely beautiful. Patricia Field has actually improved on the show with over 300 costume changes for just the ladies alone. You get the oldie but goody references to the flower Carrie wore to her opening credits tutu. You salivate over the wedding dresses Carrie models for a Vogue shoot. And the Vivienne Westwood fashion show they attend is not just a showcase for clothes but art. And don’t forget New York City. The show is presented throughout all the seasons and you feel as if you are watching a commercial to travel to NYC. The beauty, the hustle and bustle, and the landmarks are all on full display.
Along with a stunted storyline, Jennifer Hudson’s character Louise was very obvious. She comes along like a young Pollyanna when Carrie is at a low point in her life. The two girls get along famously and teach each other new things. But you feel as if she was strategically placed just to keep moving the plot along.
I was and still am a big fan of Sex and the City the television show. The girls’ relationship, the fashion, and the leading men. But the writing has not gotten better over the past four years which leads to a movie that does a disservice rather than improving on it.
Report Card:
Story-C-
Acting-B+
Visuals-A
Originality/Innovation-C
Enjoyability Grade–C
Overall Grade-B-
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