Sex and the City (New Line Cinema)
A Successful Continuation of the TV Show
Up front I have to say I have never watched the TV series Sex in the City, neither on HBO nor sanitized on TBS. So seeing the movie was my first exposure to Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristen Davis). I didnt know their backstories so I started with the movie as the beginning of their stories. Surprisingly it didnt take long to get up to speed and into the familiar territory of four bonded friends living the good life in New York City.
The movie takes place four years after the last segment of the TV show. Life has gone on and now we pick up with the four women once again. They are still friends and are virtually still together except for the fact Samantha lives in LA and Miranda is living in Brooklyn.
The star of the show is Carrie. It is her relationship with Mr. Big (Chris Noth) that dominates the film. He is her boyfriend of ten years and as the film opens he proposes. Everything that happens in the movie after that event is affected by the proposal and its outcome.
Samanthas story is about living and loving in LA. Samantha is a successful publicist and she is devoting her life and career to the happiness and success of Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis). Everything she does revolves on keeping him happy and working. In the past he has sacrificed for her and now it is her turn.
Miranda is trying to be a total woman. She has a career as a lawyer, plus she is a wife and mother. She is trying to do it all and it is all wearing her out. Finally something has to give and it does.
Charlotte gets the least screen time in the movie. She is married to Harry (Evan Handle) and they have adopted a daughter named Lily from China. All Charlotte has ever wanted to be is a wife and mother and that is just what she is doing. But Charlotte being Charlotte fears it will all end tomorrow.
These situations appear to be like portions of the TV show but in the movie they get to play out and get resolved. There are also montages of fashions that add nothing to the plot but do entertain the female members of the audience which probably accounts for ninety per cent of the viewers.
Jennifer Hudson is also on hand as Louise, Carries assistant. It is not a good role for Hudson but she plays it adequately. As a bonus she gets to sing on the soundtrack.
Parker looks the worst and acts the best as Carrie. She is too thin and also looks older than her years. Still she gets off some of the funniest lines, shows the most emotion, and really clicks in her scenes with Noth. She is totally the glue that holds the film together.
The rest of the cast is believable in their individual roles but no one makes an impression. The men who are seen supporting the women are a forgettable bunch except for Noth. He should be getting bigger and better roles.
The movie is rated R for profanity and nudity.
The movie should be a crowd pleaser as women will celebrate seeing a film that is told from a womans point of view from beginning to end. There is a strong emotional core to this film and that comes from the friendship the four women enjoy and display.
Men may be uncomfortable watching a movie that is feminine in every way, but the strong story line might entertain and educate them. At the least they get a birds eye view into the minds and actions of four adult females who are successful in their lives, most of the time.
I scored Sex and the City a metropolitan 7 out of 10.
