Sex and the City

Rated MA

Directed by Michael Patrick King

 

 

The sold out signs are up all over town. Sex and the City finally arrived in cinemas today and you’ll be all frocked up with no place to go tonight if you haven’t already secured a ticket. Evening sessions at Greater Union Innaloo apparently sold out some weeks ago and yesterday I saw sold out signs at the Astor in Mt Lawley.

I was fortunate enough to attend Roadshow’s premiere on Monday at Hoyts La Premiere at Carousel, complete with yummy finger food and drinks (no Cosmos, though).

Predictably women way outnumbered men; this really is one for the girls. Not a chick flick per se but one to share with girlfriends who have been there for you through the good times and bad.

Despite what you may have read, this is a great film. As a long time Sex and the City fan (I was suckered in to getting the original shoebox DVD set way back when), I couldn’t have asked for more and wouldn’t have expected anything less.

Be warned, there are some plot spoilers ahead, although not anywhere near as many as in the trailer; what’s with that!?

 

After attending the auction of a New York socialite’s jewellery (the poor woman was turfed out on the street with nothing), Carrie begins to wonder what would happen if something bad were to happen between her and Mr Big (still can’t quite get used to the notion is name is John).

Although Big has just signed up to buy them a penthouse love-nest, Carrie is seeking a little more security. So she thinks. Somehow in a conversation devoid of romance and more like a business transaction, they agree to get married. Carrie even eschews a ring in favour of getting a massive new closet to house all those frocks and Manolos.

Of course the road to the altar was never going to run smoothly for this couple and Mr Big begins to get the jitters as “the wedding” becomes fodder for newspaper columns and more troubling, the focus of a cover feature and spread in Vogue.

An intimate gathering for 75 soon blows out to a full blown affair for 200 complete with wedding planner, couture gown and all the trimmings.

As trouble brews in paradise, Carrie’s friends are having problems of their own. Sex-mad Samantha is tiring of life in Los Angeles, where she has been managing Smith’s career. She spends a lot of time perving on her sexy neighbour, who likes to have sex with the blinds open and to shower in the nude.

Steve and Miranda also hit a rough patch sparked by a confession of infidelity, leading to some of the film’s most heartfelt, honest and realistic scenes and dialogue

Perky Charlotte seems to be the only one bathed in a cocoon of happiness, living a charmed life with husband Harry and her adopted three-year-old daughter.

Critics love to hurl slings and arrows at Sex and the City for its rampant consumerism, its blasé attitude to sex and relationships and they way the characters covet luxury items and lifestyle above all else.

There are plenty of other things we could add to that list; a lack of family members to exert influence, the unrealistic way the foursome can just drop work and commitments to shop, lunch or holiday, the fact a columnist like Carrie has enough money to own a swish apartment and all that designer gear. Heck this time around she even has an assistant.

Some are now complaining there’s not enough sex and sassiness in the big screen outing. Come on – four years have passed since we last saw the girls and two are now parents. Wouldn’t it be more outrageous if they were out on the town all night with strange men?

New York looks fabulous and I still harbour a deep desire to head to the home of yellow cabs and the Magnolia Bakery, even if it doesn’t feature here.

Kristin Davis has some surprisingly feisty moments as Charlotte and an embarrassing one that is possibly the film’s funniest moment. She’s also instrumental in how Carrie’s story ends.

Career-mad Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) was always my least favourite of the women and this instalment does little to change that opinion, particularly when the fallout of her unhappy marriage is deflected towards the already troubled Big and Carrie. Samantha (Kim Cattrall) seems happiest when the number one person in her life is Samantha. And Chris Noth, well, he’s suave, he’s suited, he’s not good at letters and emotions – he’s Mr Big.

And then there’s Carrie. Sarah Jessica Parker gives her style, class, vitality and in key moments, vulnerability. She’s a strong woman who spends a lot of time kicking herself for ever believing she could have a happily ever after. I’ve never been sold on many of her fashion and shoe choices but that’s just me.

Carrie’s assistant Louise from St Louis (Jennifer Hudson) comes to New York looking for love, like Carrie did 20 years ago, and helps put the writer’s life and spirit back on track. The “love” key ring Louise carries is a little trite and gooey, especially its significance later in the film.

I won’t reveal any more other than get your tickets now, if you still can.