Director: Michael Patrick King
Writer: Michael Patrick King (screenplay), Candace Bushnell (story/characters)
Released: May 2008, May 2010
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon
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Sex and the City has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary since the TV series of the same name was aired. Coincidently, I watched the Sex and the City movies for the first time ever merely a week ago (and have only just learnt it was based on a book and a TV series!).
Basically, I had to see what all the fuss was about. I always hear references to it, but was never entirely sure what it was about so I watched both movies in one sitting. (While drinking wine and eating vegan fish fingers.)
The reason why I’m combining the reviews of Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2 is because I found them to be very similar stories, with neither one more enjoyable than the other.
These films are all about the characters: Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis) and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon). Therefore, your first task is to pick your favourite.
Mine is Charlotte because she’s happy in her relationship, has a solid family around her, she tends to worry a lot, and I love how elegantly she dresses. So I found her the most relatable and aspirational. She is also a very sensible person who ‘mothers’ the rest.
Carrie is a lot of people’s favourite as she has an on-again, off-again relationship and is stumbling through her love life not knowing which way is up. While many would find this scandalous and entertaining, I found her storyline with her long-term partner, Big (Chris Noth) (I don’t want to know why everyone calls him Big), irritating. I feel like she requires a good, hard slap to snap her out of her dizzy, juvenile daydream.
Samantha is the eldest and is pretty much a sex addict, so even though her storyline is hot and happening with lots of young, fit men, she was a tad too brash and screechy when she spoke for my liking.
Miranda has an unfortunate haircut. She’s also very pale and sinewy. I don’t like it. I think Nicole Kidman or Marcia Cross would have been better casting choices. (In fact, was Nicole Kidman’s character in Big Little Lies based on Miranda?)
The first film is about the girls going to Mexico after Carrie’s fiance, Big, ditches her at the alter. The honeymoon to Mexico was already booked, so they all jump a plane to enjoy it and to recover from heartbreak.
The second film is about the girls’ trip to Dubai. Samantha gets a free-of-charge, all-inclusive luxurious getaway for them all, but things start turning sour when Carrie bumps into an ex-boyfriend in the markets of Dubai – then kisses him! Even though she has a man back home. Bitch.
Sex and the City is the film that excuses you from your sad, poor-person life and gives you a doorway to the life of luxury. It’s an escape into a world that is filled with money, men, scandals and branded bags.
I was personally expecting more scandal and more bitchiness; I think the movies could have done better to live up to their reputation. But it was okay. They’re movies are about extravagance and glamour, so I enjoyed them for what they were.
While there are rumours for a third instalment, I’m not convinced this will happen. Partially due to the apparent ‘feud’ between Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall.
Jodie’s ratings: 4.5/10
NZ Film Freak 