'Sex and the City' more than fad, it's a classic
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, May 31, 2008
Cosmos may be out of vogue, but "Sex and the City" isn't.
In the big-screen version, which opened Friday, the HBO comedy holds up as well as a pair of Manolo Blahniks. Attractive, well-constructed and -- maybe, just maybe -- a little painful, it tells us what happened to Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte when they walked out of viewers' lives.
When the film begins, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is engaged to Big (Chris Noth) and has earned a spread in Vogue -- "The Last Single Girl," a look at the fortysomething bride. While trying on a parade of dresses, she finds one that's perfect. Instead of settling for a city hall wedding, she opts for the full magilla and pulls in her sidekicks. At the rehearsal dinner, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) says something to Big that changes everything.
A shoe drops -- that shouldn't -- and the four are kicked into a mini-drama that involves three separations, a birth, a bi-coastal Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and a vacation that gives Carrie that one good laugh that's able to change everything.
While this "Sex and the City" is largely business as usual (it features plenty of profanity and nudity), it does teach a valuable lesson about friendship. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) aren't just friends during the good times. They're friends during the bad, too. That's key.
When both Carrie and Miranda find themselves alone on New Year's Eve, the two join forces and demonstrate just how important those bonds can be. The message shouldn't be lost on women -- or the few men they drag to see the film.
Writer/director Michael Patrick King makes sure there are plenty of good times and bad times. True to the series, he tosses in so many costume changes you'd think this "Sex and the City" starred Diana Ross.
Instead, Jennifer Hudson fills the "Dreamgirls" quotient. She's slipped in as Carrie's personal assistant -- a techno-whiz who helps get the writer's life back on track. To make room for Hudson, King has decreased the screen time of some other chums -- and that's too bad. Mario Cantone and Willie Garson, in particular, were necessary comic relief in the series. Here, they're little more than overpaid extras.
Carrie's best friends, though, aren't shortchanged at all. Miranda has husband problems; Samantha doesn't like living in California; Charlotte copes with the thought of expanding motherhood. King weaves the stories in and out and, for good measure, sends his quartet to a fashion show that's part of the reason this seems bloated.
Like four episodes of the series, "Sex and the City" could be cut for cable and wouldn't be worse for the wear. The Botox quotient is high (just listen to fans after they see the film), but the outing isn't like a drag show in Vegas.
Instead, Carrie and company look sweet -- and wise. They learn plenty from their mistakes and emerge better women. This "Sex and the City" isn't just a passing fad (though it will look dated in just a matter of months). It's a classic that could go with just about everything.
Rated R, "Sex and the City" features profanity, nudity and graphic sexuality.
On a scale of four stars, "Sex and the City" gets:
3 stars
In the big-screen version, which opened Friday, the HBO comedy holds up as well as a pair of Manolo Blahniks. Attractive, well-constructed and -- maybe, just maybe -- a little painful, it tells us what happened to Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte when they walked out of viewers' lives.
When the film begins, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is engaged to Big (Chris Noth) and has earned a spread in Vogue -- "The Last Single Girl," a look at the fortysomething bride. While trying on a parade of dresses, she finds one that's perfect. Instead of settling for a city hall wedding, she opts for the full magilla and pulls in her sidekicks. At the rehearsal dinner, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) says something to Big that changes everything.
A shoe drops -- that shouldn't -- and the four are kicked into a mini-drama that involves three separations, a birth, a bi-coastal Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and a vacation that gives Carrie that one good laugh that's able to change everything.
While this "Sex and the City" is largely business as usual (it features plenty of profanity and nudity), it does teach a valuable lesson about friendship. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) aren't just friends during the good times. They're friends during the bad, too. That's key.
When both Carrie and Miranda find themselves alone on New Year's Eve, the two join forces and demonstrate just how important those bonds can be. The message shouldn't be lost on women -- or the few men they drag to see the film.
Writer/director Michael Patrick King makes sure there are plenty of good times and bad times. True to the series, he tosses in so many costume changes you'd think this "Sex and the City" starred Diana Ross.
Instead, Jennifer Hudson fills the "Dreamgirls" quotient. She's slipped in as Carrie's personal assistant -- a techno-whiz who helps get the writer's life back on track. To make room for Hudson, King has decreased the screen time of some other chums -- and that's too bad. Mario Cantone and Willie Garson, in particular, were necessary comic relief in the series. Here, they're little more than overpaid extras.
Carrie's best friends, though, aren't shortchanged at all. Miranda has husband problems; Samantha doesn't like living in California; Charlotte copes with the thought of expanding motherhood. King weaves the stories in and out and, for good measure, sends his quartet to a fashion show that's part of the reason this seems bloated.
Like four episodes of the series, "Sex and the City" could be cut for cable and wouldn't be worse for the wear. The Botox quotient is high (just listen to fans after they see the film), but the outing isn't like a drag show in Vegas.
Instead, Carrie and company look sweet -- and wise. They learn plenty from their mistakes and emerge better women. This "Sex and the City" isn't just a passing fad (though it will look dated in just a matter of months). It's a classic that could go with just about everything.
Rated R, "Sex and the City" features profanity, nudity and graphic sexuality.
On a scale of four stars, "Sex and the City" gets:
3 stars
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 2 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
skywalker wrote on Jun 6, 2008 10:57 AM:
L & L ... Laughing & Loving every minute of the film. "
skywalker wrote on Jun 6, 2008 10:52 AM: