There's climactic moment in Sex and the City 2 (SATC2), when all the mess-ups created by its quartet of New York fashionistas in the city of Abu Dhabi are meant to be forgotten in one sweeping moment of supportive sisterhood: i.e., the four ladies discover that halfway across the world, Arab women under their burkhas are wearing the same designer labels as them.
The scene sums up what's wrong with the film — shallow consumerism passing off as emotional growth. Equally, it's a reminder of why, when we first met them on TV so long ago, we did love Charlotte (Kristin Davis) Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker). Beneath and beyond their Jimmy Choos and Prada, were a group of real women that we could relate to, whether they were being funny or foolish, perceptive or occasionally mean. They shared an enviable friendship, and were vulnerable even as they confidently staked their claim on the Big Apple.
In SATC2 — written and directed by Michael Patrick King, who produced the original HBO series — the ladies are shallow caricatures of themselves. Sure, you can still watch SATC2 as frivolous entertainment, but the point of the original quartet is lost. Carrie feels materialistic and shallow, when she should be sophisticated and insightful, while Samantha comes across as tacky and lewd, rather than sexy and irrepressible.
Setting the meaninglessly opulent tone of SATC2 is the opening set piece: a gay wedding complete with male choir, swans and Liza Minnelli officiating the vows. In the two years that have passed since the previous film, Charlotte and Harry (Evan Handler) are happy parents to two daughters; Miranda is content with Steve (David Eigenberg) and their son Brady; Carrie and Big (Chris Noth) thrive in the lap of luxury; and Samantha revels in her role as super-sexed publicist.
Sure there are cracks — Charlotte's stressed by her demanding daughters and their sexy nanny; Miranda is unhappy at work; Samantha takes hormones by the fistful to fend off age; and Carrie has to find a lasting recipe to make her childless — by choice — marriage work. The problems aren't earth-shatteringly original, but what the heck, are real enough for the ladies to sink their teeth into them — but no.
Instead, they are packed off on a no-vulgar-luxury spared holiday to Abu Dhabi, thanks to a freebie junket inveigled by Samantha. From the four white Maybachs that greet Carrie & Co at the airport, to the three dress changes per fashionista deemed vital for a camel ride/lunch in the desert, the movie never misses a trick in terms of the bad taste highs. Even the clothes look more like costumes than couture.
Still, SATC is a franchise meant for its fans, and will entertain as a girls' night out film. Just so long as you accept it's the Lite version with artificial sweeteners that you're getting; they stopped serving the real thing somewhere along the course of its 90-plus TV episodes.
Sex and the City 2
Genre: Chick-flick
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis
Director: Michael Patrick King
Storyline: Carrie & Co cavort in bling costumes and high heels in the deserts of Abu Dhabi.
Bottomline: For diehard fans; but its the one calorie version, rather than the real thing.
