Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Sex and the City: Never as good as the first time
In what has proven to be the first disappointment of unofficial summer, Sex and the City 2 has confirmed its identity to be what most of us feared: a rushed effort on the part of writers and producers desperately trying to capitalize on the success of a blockbuster for the sake of profit and not in the name of advancing a story.Over a two hour journey that could best be described as campy, we watched our favorite ladies (dressed uber-fabulously, even better than the original flick, I must say) wander through half developed character arcs and an over-the-top Middle Eastern vacation (that was actually shot in North Africa), garnering cheap laughs through silly guest spots and predictable hi jinx.
The film ranged from slow moving (the suspense builds as we wonder if Charlotte's nanny will ever wear a bra!) to borderline offensive (Carrie's mocking a woman in traditional Muslim attire who is trying to eat french fries through her abaya). What became abundantly clear as the non-plot progressed was that the writers were unwilling to do what they would have needed in order to make this a quality sequel: take the additional time to "smarten" the script (i.e. increase witty jokes, reduce slapstick hilarity) and take risks with the women's happiness for the sake of authentic drama (i.e. give Carrie real conflict, make Samantha three dimensional, show the natural growing apart and growing together that lifelong friends do over time).
So much more I can say, and I will at a later date. But I want to give my girls a chance to share their $.02.
