Sex in the City Movie

I am sort of a second-generation Sex in the City fan. I did not see the first run of the series on HBO, but I did get hooked on the story lines when the show finished production and a sanitized PG13 version started appearing on TBS. (Recently I read a review of the TBS shows that said the viewer would miss a lot of “who the characters really are” if they just saw the shows on TBS. However, having caught a few of those on YouTube, I think TBS did a great job in presenting the story lines. In other words it showed the City, and kept most of the blatant Sex out of it. Let’s just say I don’t think I missed much in the way of character development.

So when I finally saw the last episode of the series, I was satisfied. All four of the women had finally “grown up” and were able to start caring for others.

Charlotte came to realize that her perfect man might not look like Prince Charming, but that Harry, even with all of his rough edges, was a real prince.

Miranda really came to die to herself by putting Steve and Brady first, moving to Brooklyn and caring for her mother-in-law in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Much to her surprise, she was happy!

I thought Samantha became a better person when she went through her chemo treatments and let Smith love her and care for her even when she wasn’t at the height of her sexual powers.

And Carrie and Big finally found each other.

The ending was perfect.

So I was a little disturbed when I found a movie was in the works. A good storyline has to have some conflicts and I was pretty sure that some if not all of these relationships were going to have to be shaken up in order to fill two hours of screen time! I was right.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Charlotte is my favorite girl. She’s funny and silly yet has these inspired moments of wisdom sometimes. Her biggest problem is that she is too happy and she is afraid gloom and doom will soon catch up with her. It doesn’t. She finally gets pregnant and gives her adopted Chinese daughter a baby sister. The scene in which Harry beams over now having a “Lilly and a Rose” was very sweet.

When we catch up with Miranda she is on the working mommy track and it’s burning her out and taking a toll on her marriage. Watching Steve confess that he had had sex with somebody else was painful to watch. I felt an ache in my gut seeing how sorrowful he was. However, Miranda doesn’t see it that way and spends the next 2/3 of the movie punishing him for his indiscretion. Miranda gets her own lesson in forgiveness from Carrie later on. It is very gratifying when Miranda and Steve reconcile (although I could have used a little warning before the 5 second porno scene that came out of no where at the end of the movie.)

Samantha is living the life of a pampered kept woman. I couldn’t tell if she is still working her own business or if Smith is now her only client. At age 50 she’s getting bored with monogamy and regular day-to-day life as a couple. Samantha has the grown the least mentally and spiritually over the past four years, which is surprising since she was the one with cancer! The scene with Samantha discussing how conflicted she is over her life with Smith is the most disturbing. Samantha wants more excitement and she wants other men ,but Smith was the one who stood by her during chemotherapy.

Carrie, says something like, “You know you just compared your relationship to chemo.”

Say what? I hate it when straw men are written right into the dialogue. Samantha was having pains of loyalty, appreciation and guilt and with that one stupid comment Carrie gave her permission to revert back to her selfish impulses. Which she does. Samantha tells Smith she loves him, but she loves herself more. Listen, it didn’t play that well to hear a 50 year old woman say it, but I sure hope to see how that plays out when she’s 60 and 70.

Carrie and Big. Big I actually liked. He’s grown up, even thoughtful. On their big wedding day Big isn’t trying to humiliate Carrie by not making into the wedding. Rather he’s having an anxiety attack of sorts and needs a little comfort, understanding and … well love! In fact he is turning around to go back to the NY Public Library (where the wedding was to take place) when he and Carrie meet. There was a nanosecond there where everything could have worked out (although it would have REALLY shortened the movie). However, I would have written it like this:

Carrie: “Are you okay.”

Big: “Yea. Look Carrie I’m so sorry. I just got a little freaked out about the wedding, marriage, all of it. I don’t want to screw it up again. I just don’t want to lose you.”

Carrie (holding his hand): “Look I understand. This is scary for me too. Let’s ride back together. Maybe the preacher is still there. We’ll go in, get married and then let’s go to our party. Let’s have some fun.

Big: “You’re right. I’m sorry. Let’s go get married.”

A little simplistic perhaps, but that’s how it could have gone. Instead we got this.

In the movie it takes Carrie almost six months to figure it out. Duh.

Anyway, I was in with a fun crowd when Mr. Pete and I went to see the movie (it was for my birthday). It was interesting to me to see 20 something women rooting for these 40 something gals. There was a satisfying conclusion to all of the stories.

I hope they don’t mess it up with a sequel.

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