Review of Sex and the City (2008) by James C — 28 Feb 2013

This movie is a continuation of the popular TV series of the same name. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is a writer living in New York. She is moving into a new apartment and becomes engaged to be married. Things start to go wrong for her when one of her closest friends lets out a few choice words to Carrie's fiancé. Although she lets out these remarks in frustration to her own relationship things begin to ripple.

Sex and the City has been a huge success, women of all ages had been glued to their TV sets for 10 years before the movie finally arrived. For me (a man who hasn't watched one episode) the movie feels less like a movie, and more like what I would image one long episode of the series to be.

When the movie finished, I felt like (to borrow one of Simon's favourite phrases) nothing happened. On reflection I guess quite a lot had happened; various hurdles and speed bumps in at least 5 relationships. The girls went to therapy, organised a wedding, fell pregnant and even crossed international borders. But for me I guess all the events that occurred seemed to be mentioned in passing and a little in the background. What was occupying the foreground was Vivian Westwood, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Prada and so on and so on. You could argue that this is the essence of the mood and what Sex and the City is all about. But for me I'm following a story, presented in words and images, and expect that to stand out further than the wardrobe.

Talking of Wardrobes, what the hell happened in the new apartment? When they came to view the apartment it was a broom closet. Carrie is unhappy and Big says he will fix it for her. Fix it for her? What did he do, buy the apartment next door too? The space created is amazing! He must be skilled in magic and illusion as well as carpentry. What a man, no wonder why she wants to marry him.

Another part that didn't seem to fit for me was the constant talk of being old. Not just old, but too old. But clearly not too old for heavy pounding R & B to play through half the movie.

I found that with Sex and the City the acting isn't bad, nor is the filming, nor anything else for that matter. Although having said that nothing is great either. The film is lukewarm, flimsy and left me appropriately unaffected. I think this is because the movie takes no chances and constantly plays it safe.

When a series produces a movie I would expect a one off extravaganza and not a 2 and a half hour episode. The movie wasn't made to break new ground but simply as a crowd pleaser. But having played it so safe, lacking in content and delivering little impact I wonder if it manages to achieve that.