Sex and the City

Ted and I went to see Sex and the City on Saturday night, along with our good friends, Cherry and Eric. Here’s my thought: If you liked the TV Show, you’ll like the film. If you didn’t, you won’t. Well, duh, but I kinda think that might need to be said, because I’ve seen a few reviews by folks who hated it, but also said they didn’t like the series either. The relief, for me, is that if you did like the series, chances are you’ll like the film. Whew.

I’m guessing you all know the story line. When we last saw this fab four, they were living in New York, and settling into their mid-30s pretty well (except Samantha, who is almost 10 years the senior of the others.) Carrie had returned from an aborted move to Paris, and was once again in the city she loves, and had finally won the heart of her on-again, off-again lover, Mr. Big. Miranda had finally come to accept Brooklyn life with husband Steve, son Brady, and a daffy (and by daffy, I mean suffering from dementia) MIL. Charlotte had found her Prince Charming, Harry, and they had just gotten word that they were to adopt a lovely little girl, Lily. And Samantha was trying out long term manogomy with a man many years her Jr., Smith.

Fast forward four years, and Carrie and Big are still together, and finally decide to move in together and get married. Carrie’s book career has continued to take off, and she is now starting work on book number 4. The books have given her enough money that she no longer seems to be broke, and is no longer having to decide between paying the bills and buying the shoes. Miranda is frustrated and unhappy with married life, and is doing her best to push Steve away. Charlotte is still happy with Harry, and loves being a mommy to Lily. And Samantha is unhappy, still with Smith, but living in Los Angeles, and working as his PR person, rather than having the more diverse clientele she had in New York.

Carrie has always been the main focus of the story, and that hasn’t changed for the film. It is her moving, her wedding, her anguish and frustrations that we see most clearly and thoroughly. If you haven’t guessed by the trailers and the hype, something goes wrong on the way to the alter, and causes Carrie to reassess sher life and her focus. Along the way, she hires a personal assistant, because she is overwhelmed with the emotional demands of having her wedding called off, and needs someone to deal with the details. That personal assistant, Louise, is played charmingly by Jennifer Hudson, a girl forthright and honest enough to admit that she came to New York looking for love, and a girl after Carrie’s own heart, as exemplified by her ‘rent-a-designer-bag’ membership. My only problem with the Carrie storyline was that I thought she overreacted to Big’s moment of crisis. It seemed out of character for her. But the story did need that conflict, so overreact she did. The resolution to the story was fulfilling, and I was happy to see it end the way it did.

Miranda’s story was the most confusing to me. She was so clearly pushing Steve away, so clearly unhappy with her life in general, but there’s no clear indication as to why. Miranda has always struggled against losing her freedom, struggled against the sacrifices demanded of women in high power careers when they have children. But from what we saw, her career was going well, so what was the basis of her frustration? Was she having a mid-life crisis, and frustrated with her life and the compromises that she had to make? Isn’t that a common theme for many people coming into their 40s, the realization that the hopes and dreams we had in our 20s, that seemed like they might be attainable while we’re in our 30s, may now not have panned out? It’s this sense of ennui in her relationship that I didn’t quite understand. I don’t think they fleshed it out well enough.

Samantha is tired of living her life, both professionally and personally, for Smith. She feels that she has lost herself in the act of loving him, and it’s making her miserable. There really isn’t more to her story than that, except it is charming to see how hard she tries to stay faithful to him, while being sorely tempted by her hot and horny new neighbor.

And Charlotte, blissful Charlotte, who is happy in her life, and only gets happier. She so wants her friends to be happy along with her, and is always on their side, cheering them along.

The main theme of the film, aside from their continued friendship, was forgiveness. Miranda and Steve learning to forgive each other for their hurts and betrayals. Carrie and Big forgiving each other for theirs as well. Samantha learning to forgive herself for not being a one-man woman.

My only complaint with the film, other than the over-reaction by Carrie that pushed the plot along, was the characters of Steve and Big. Especially Big, who seemed to have no real friends of his own, and seemed, well, passive. David Eigenberg did a great job of showing Steve’s pain and remorse, but beyond that, his character wasn’t well flushed out.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film. Perhaps I’ll see it again, though I’ll probably wait for it to come out on DVD, and add it to my collection. I’ll give it two thumbs up, or if you’re looking for a letter grade, A-.

If you’ve seen it, let me know what you thought. Did you crave a cosmo?