I don’t want to say that Sex and the City: The Movie is only for faithful viewers of the HBO series, but I will say the uninitiated probably won’t “get” the film.
The movie thoughtfully begins with the clueless viewer in mind with a short montage of names, faces and their relationship status. This is a nice moment for those of us who have seen all the episodes to reminisce on why we loved these girls so much. There’s the centerpiece, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) who’s a sex columnist and author of three books; Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) manages an art gallery and lives with her adopted baby girl and her husband; Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) is a lawyer with a hubby and kid in Brooklyn; and Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) is a publicist for her boyfriend model/actor in L.A. Thankfully, the entire original cast remains, as does the snappy dialogue, the twisting dramas and the form of the characters.
The story picks up approximately four years after the series left off. Carrie and her boyfriend John (Chris Noth), or Mr. Big as he’s always been referred to, are taking the next step in their relationship by buying an apartment together. The sacrifice of giving up their individual apartments is a huge symbolic move on their part, but Carrie is put off when Big says he’ll “take care of” the new penthouse’s exorbitant price tag. At first, Carrie is happy to have the new dream pad, but a trip to a divorce-inspired auction plants seeds of doubt in her mind about her own money being attached to the deal.
When Carrie brings up her worries to Big, he senses her doubting their relationship’s lasting-power. To prove to her he is serious about being with only her for the rest of his life, he nonchalantly says they should get married. Never has there been a more sedated, laid-back scene where two people finally decide to tie the knot after ten years of dating. Carrie’s friends are both shocked and elated for her, and the marriage plans begin to boom New York-style.
When Vogue learns of the socialite’s impending nuptials, they help turn a “small wedding” into an extravaganza, complete with fashion shoot, four-page story and a fabulous designer wedding dress as a gift. And though the story often revolves around Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte — all have their own side dramas to help fill in the gaps.
What’s refreshing about the film is not only how the characters remain true to their TV-selves, but also how they develop within two hours and twenty minutes of movie-time. Some of the girls are rediscovering themselves, and some reap the turmoil of the mistakes they have made. If you are a fan of the show, certain moments in this film will move you to the point of tears. For those who aren’t, pivotal moments can’t possibly seem as poignant. Fans will better reap the benefits of watching the anguish and happiness of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte than those entering their world cold. For the uninitiated, I’d say it’s either time for a Sex and the City marathon, or skip the movie altogether.
The only new cast addition is Jennifer Hudson as Carrie’s new personal assistant in the second act. As Louise, Hudson does a fine job, though the addition of her character adds a bit of lull in the momentum in the movie. I can only feel some Hollywood bigwig wanted to add someone “new” to the mix for the film, because Louise’s eventual purpose could’ve easily been perpetuated by Carrie’s friends; more screen time for Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson), for instance, would have been a welcomed addition to this series reunion.
I’ve heard people making fun of Carrie’s flamboyant fashion sense for years. What I love about the film is it answers these critics in the film with one central theme: be true to yourself. Carrie may wear giant flowers that swallow up her shoulder blades, but she is confident enough in herself to do so. How many women can say that? The movie stresses to remember, recognize and be true to yourself — and that’s what Carrie does. This, along with the inspiring unshakable friendship she shares with three incredible women, make the girls from Sex and the City the best female role models in modern pop culture. The film reminds us we are lucky to have had them.
Sex and the City: The Movie is at the Beverly Cinema, Savoy 16 and Harvest Moon Drive-in
Runtime: 2h 15min — Rated R — Comedy/Romance