Sex & the City 2 (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
I really enjoyed the Sex & the City TV series. The writing was fantastic. The characters were fully developed ... & likeable. I was invested. In 2008, the 1st 'Sex' movie came out, & to my surprise, I really liked it (figuring it wouldn't translate well to cinematic form). Does this 2nd film measure up to the 1st surprisingly enjoyable film? Umm, not quite. The 1st film actually had a narrative line, while this film was purely made as a bankable, costume-heavy, superfluous sequel. Still, it's watchable & offensive only to those who choose to be offended. The film opens by re-introducing us to the 'Sex' foursome - as if anyone in the theater hadn't watched the show. 2 yrs. have passed since the end of the last film, but no one has really 'moved on', so to speak - always struggling with the ups & downs of life & love. Carrie Preston (Sarah Jessica Parker) is still married to Big (Chris Noth), the man she was always meant to be with. But tedium is slowly setting in; he'd rather spend time at home watching old black & white movies & eating take-out food, while she wants to dress up & go out for night(s) on the town.
So when he suggests a 'let's see each other 5 days a week out of 7 to make us appreciate our marriage more' idea, she kinda freaks out. Samantha (Kim Cattrall), now into her 50's, yet missing the sex drive of her 30's, is now taking Suzanne Somers' hormone therapy to thwart menopausal symptoms. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is finding that being mom to 2 youngens (one in her "terrible twos") is nearly impossible. And to make matters worse, she fears that her hubby Harry (Evan Handler) will turn his attention towards their bra-less nanny, Erin (a bouncy Alice Eve). And as for Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), she quits her job as a top attorney when her new senior partner can't handle a smart, powerful woman around him. He insults her, & she can't cope with it.
The 1st half of the film transpires in good 'ole NYC, but for the rest of this 140 minute film, thanks to Samantha's public relations work, she arranges for our fabulous quartet go off on a 1-week, all-expenses paid vacation to exotic Abu Dhabi. Once there, they are treated like royalty; living in the lap of luxury, & prancing around the city in all of their fabulousness. But things go wrong (or else ther'd be no movie), and much melodrama ensues. Throughout the movie, we get to see TV fan favorites: Stanford, Anthony, Steve, Smith, Magda (Willie Garson, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Jason Lewis, Lynn Cohen), a variety of eclectic cameos (Liza, Tim Gunn, Penelope Cruz, Miley Cyrus), some surprises like Aidan (John Corbett), & even some new love interests (like Max Ryan).
I am happy to have spent some time with some of my favorite TV characters. And as a fan of the show, it would have been nearly impossible for me to have not liked this film. That said, I tolerated this movie almost completely because of that allegiance, & for no other reason. I mean, the plot is completely situational & lacking in substance. Any intelligence in the script comes in spurts of one-liners & quips. And what actually 'happens' in the story plays out like a soap opera (extra apartments, movie premieres, personal jets, inclusive resorts, butlers, camel rides, incredible coincidences). Whenever an interesting issue/topic is broached, only a minute or two is devoted to it, & it's trumped by the next insane, superficial, materialistic plot point to come along. You see, in this movie, the writers abandon the strong, clever, multi-dimensional women we grew to love (on the show) by making them do nothing but flaunt their abundance of wealth.
All that said, though the brand of kitsch humor here is sometimes forced (especially early on), I did laugh throughout the film - but then, it's always easier to laugh (with this type of cult movie) in the company of friends and/or fellow fans. Kim Cattrall drew the most laughs out of me - with Samantha's hormonal antics. Kristin Davis & Cynthia Nixon are fine; nothing special. But I liked their scene together at the bar when discussing the downside(s) of motherhood. And Sarah Jessica Parker is the glue. You may love Carrie in all of her neurotic glory, or you may hate her, but this film is very Carrie-centric, & Parker does a great job, as usual. 'Sex & the City 2' lacks some 'sex', and much of the 'city'. It alternates between being garish & sophisticated. There are things to cringe at (Liza singing Beyonce, extravagant excesses in Abu Dhabi, tacky outfits, Muslim stereotypes), but there are also things to truly enjoy (just casually watching the 4 girls getting caught-up in outrageous happenings). For this movie, nostalgia for the TV show blinds my cinematic cynicism.
So when he suggests a 'let's see each other 5 days a week out of 7 to make us appreciate our marriage more' idea, she kinda freaks out. Samantha (Kim Cattrall), now into her 50's, yet missing the sex drive of her 30's, is now taking Suzanne Somers' hormone therapy to thwart menopausal symptoms. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is finding that being mom to 2 youngens (one in her "terrible twos") is nearly impossible. And to make matters worse, she fears that her hubby Harry (Evan Handler) will turn his attention towards their bra-less nanny, Erin (a bouncy Alice Eve). And as for Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), she quits her job as a top attorney when her new senior partner can't handle a smart, powerful woman around him. He insults her, & she can't cope with it.
The 1st half of the film transpires in good 'ole NYC, but for the rest of this 140 minute film, thanks to Samantha's public relations work, she arranges for our fabulous quartet go off on a 1-week, all-expenses paid vacation to exotic Abu Dhabi. Once there, they are treated like royalty; living in the lap of luxury, & prancing around the city in all of their fabulousness. But things go wrong (or else ther'd be no movie), and much melodrama ensues. Throughout the movie, we get to see TV fan favorites: Stanford, Anthony, Steve, Smith, Magda (Willie Garson, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Jason Lewis, Lynn Cohen), a variety of eclectic cameos (Liza, Tim Gunn, Penelope Cruz, Miley Cyrus), some surprises like Aidan (John Corbett), & even some new love interests (like Max Ryan).
I am happy to have spent some time with some of my favorite TV characters. And as a fan of the show, it would have been nearly impossible for me to have not liked this film. That said, I tolerated this movie almost completely because of that allegiance, & for no other reason. I mean, the plot is completely situational & lacking in substance. Any intelligence in the script comes in spurts of one-liners & quips. And what actually 'happens' in the story plays out like a soap opera (extra apartments, movie premieres, personal jets, inclusive resorts, butlers, camel rides, incredible coincidences). Whenever an interesting issue/topic is broached, only a minute or two is devoted to it, & it's trumped by the next insane, superficial, materialistic plot point to come along. You see, in this movie, the writers abandon the strong, clever, multi-dimensional women we grew to love (on the show) by making them do nothing but flaunt their abundance of wealth.
All that said, though the brand of kitsch humor here is sometimes forced (especially early on), I did laugh throughout the film - but then, it's always easier to laugh (with this type of cult movie) in the company of friends and/or fellow fans. Kim Cattrall drew the most laughs out of me - with Samantha's hormonal antics. Kristin Davis & Cynthia Nixon are fine; nothing special. But I liked their scene together at the bar when discussing the downside(s) of motherhood. And Sarah Jessica Parker is the glue. You may love Carrie in all of her neurotic glory, or you may hate her, but this film is very Carrie-centric, & Parker does a great job, as usual. 'Sex & the City 2' lacks some 'sex', and much of the 'city'. It alternates between being garish & sophisticated. There are things to cringe at (Liza singing Beyonce, extravagant excesses in Abu Dhabi, tacky outfits, Muslim stereotypes), but there are also things to truly enjoy (just casually watching the 4 girls getting caught-up in outrageous happenings). For this movie, nostalgia for the TV show blinds my cinematic cynicism.