Dan's Papers - June 6, 2008 - Flick Picks by Ian Stark

It's hard to disparage Sex and the City for being nothing more than a long version of the TV show, because that's exactly what fans of the show wanted. Good news Carrie fans: mission accomplished.

While a show like Star Trek went on to become a large-scale series that expanded and improved on the limited TV product, SATC takes you to where you were when the show signed off, and leaves you there. The only difference here is that the Fabu Foursome - Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) - are a little bit older, yet not much wiser, but then again if they were, there'd be no reason for this mega-episode.

The recap: Carrie spent all those years trying to survive her undeniable love for Mr. Big (Chris Noth), and now she is.......trying to survive her undeniable love for Mr. Big. Charlotte wanted to have a baby very badly, and as SATC followers know, the series ended with her adoption of her dream Chinese baby. But now she...wants to have a baby very badly?

Etc., etc. This movie simply picks up on the same dilemmas the lead ladies had during the program's run and then puts the same drinks back in the same glasses. However, there are some advantages to adapting this fashionista fable to the big screen, one being the extra room to breathe it affords Ms. Parker. It's really strange how this TV character has come to define her career, especially because it's nothing like her work previous to the series. Remember Honeymoon in Vegas? L.A. Story? First Wives Club? For the most part, she was a movie star - playing bimbos and bubbleheads - but with smart, solid delivery and vulnerability. What's really nice about this film is that she gets back to her real game in the big pictures, taking the extra time afforded to demonstrate the extra depth, better emotional range and charisma she's capable of. Sure, it's still her struggles with Big (who by the way actually has a name now, but we'll skip that spoiler) that are the driving force of the film, but more than ever this time you really do feel something for this character who has spent so much time observing life yet is unable to decipher its mysteries for herself.

There is one important update for this story, that being the glam and the gear: considered trend-setting in its time, now the reruns and DVDs seem sort-of dated. But with this movie the drinks, the diamonds and the duds get a lush 2008 refresh, which also continue to enhance the underlying current of Sex and the City: try as you may, you can't squash your problems with purchases. They wear even more millions of dollars in jewelry and couture this time around, yet they still cannot conquer their personal demons. Luckily the ending of the film, which by the way is entirely guessable, does touch on the reality that sometimes the absence of fabulous can end up resulting true emotional satisfaction.

The other three co-stars are fine - certainly good - but unless you are fully entranced by the generally self-inflicted woes of these shiny whiners, you may find it a bit tedious. Miranda, she hasn't grown a lick and Charlotte, still unable to get past herself, while Samantha remains the most twisted sister of them all. However, it is safe to say that Cattrall's cougar seems to have grown up a bit......if only a bit. Still always fast with the R-rated punch line, still a nymphomaniac, but now in a much less perverted way. It is interesting to note: even the most casual of SATC fans know there's real-life stress between Cattrall and the rest of the cast, and in this story it just so happens she spends half the movie away living in L.A......is it storyline or personal choice? Either way, this might be the conspiracy theory/ catty best part of the whole movie!

This Movie:
*Mother Of All Chick Flicks
*Men Still Stink
*Expensive Product Placement

Ian Stark is a frequent TV and radio commentator on the film industry, and consults with private organizations on their collections. He is widely published on film and other arts/culture topics.