Grade: C+
Sip your cosmos and grab your Jimmy Choos because the girls are back in Sex and the City 2. There are wardrobe and nail polish changes galore, and somehow the drama manages to entertain and engage you well enough that you don’t even notice it’s been almost three hours since you sat down. The only problem is, somewhere between the high fashion, yams and decadence, the point of the story is lost. The movie is a bit superficial, only brushing the surface of potentially serious issues and skimming over story lines. This movie deserves a C+.
The film kicks off at the most extravagant and flamboyant gay wedding ever, complete with Liza Manelli doing a rendition of Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies”. (Hmmm…interesting tune to sing during nuptials.) Then we discover the couple has decided that it is fine for one of them to date other people in all the states that gay marriages aren’t recognized. Although the other groom says he goes along with it he actually appears a bit sad about it. Ok….
The lavish festivities last overnight, during which time we dive into insecurities, hormones and discontent that propel the story lines along.
At the reception Carrie and Big sit next to a married couple who gush over Carrie and her books until they find out that they’ve decided not to have children. This sends Carrie throughout the movie on this quest to prove “to each his own” and each couple should decide what works best for them. The only problem is, as Big has become more settled and wishes to lay low in their exquisitely- decorated home (“I’ve traded fashion” for furniture Carrie shares with a friendly store clerk) with his lovely bride versus being out and about in Manhattan, Carrie fears them becoming a boring couple with no spark.
Samantha’s saga seems to revolve around her winning the battle against menopause—and it only takes her over 40 daily pills, estrogen and progesterone to do it. We are introduced to Charlotte’s nonstop screaming toddler and braless nanny, and Samantha’s reaction to her sends Charlotte down a trail of insecurity and doubt throughout the rest of the movie. Meanwhile, Miranda is unhappy at work but is initially determined to stick it out at her firm—until—she quits in the next scene after being fed up with her boss.
For a change in scenery that we don’t often see in Hollywood, an ex-lover and former client of Samantha’s introduces her to his business contacts from Abu Dhabi, Morocco, and they offer her an all-expense-paid, first-class trip for her and the girls to visit to woo her into taking them on as clients. (On a political side note, the Moroccan city was constantly called “the Middle East” and was not once referred to as part of Africa—But, I digress.)
Samantha’s antics were more over the top than usual, if that’s possible. When arriving in
The Middle East she was forced to dump her pills and has to resort to slathering yams all over her face and arms and eating hummus to get the estrogen and progesterone she needs. She finds her sex drive diminished until a business man staying at the hotel gets her going—and arrested in the conservative climate. She is no longer welcomed by the hotel owners and the girls must exit stage left if they don’t want to pay a $22,000 a night hotel bill. Despite this, she refuses to cover up on the street, even during the sacred prayer time, which draws a mob of angry men. Where is her right to sleep with every man she meets and is attracted to and carry condoms if she wants? It’s gone, along with all the voices of the women who wear the veils in the movie, or so the story goes.
Carrie runs into her ex, Aiden at the market place and, upset about the New Yorker review on her new book (which features a caricature of her with tape over her mouth), she decides to have dinner with him. He shares pictures of his wife and their children and tells her he’s not surprised she and Big will not have kids, since she is “one of a kind”. While strolling along they end up kissing. Carrie is distraught and goes against the advice of the girls, removing the tape from her mouth and telling Big about her indiscretion. He ultimately forgives her and her punishment is… a beautiful black diamond ring that she must wear on her previously bare wedding finger. Yes black, because, it is as unique as she is of course.
Charlotte’s so upset about the possibility of her hubby sleeping with their wet t-shirt wearing and cartwheel flippin’, boobs-bouncin’ nanny that she is falling off camels in the desert. Yet, she never has a conversation with her husband about him not answering her calls or texts, or her insecurities. Her happy ending is finding out the nanny is gay at the end of the movie. (Out of nowhere…)Huh??
Miranda realizes she can’t live as a stay at home mom and finds work at a law firm where she is appreciated. Case closed.
So, is the overall message, “to each his own—whatever works for you and yours!”, “Carrie is unique”, “women around the world have and deserve a voice”, “menopause is hard”, “everything will always work out in the end”? Maybe it’s a combination of these. Or, maybe it’s none of them? Nevertheless, just keep your eye on the fashion, the “Middle Eastern” scenery and Samatha’s nails, and you’ll get through this movie.
