Film of the week: Sex And The City (15)
Damon Smith • Published 6 Jun 2010 14:00
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Rating: 5/10
OPENING to the strains of Alicia Keys' song Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down, a valentine to the concrete jungle of New York City, Sex And The City 2 takes another bite out of the Big Apple with the expertly coiffed cast of the hit TV series.
The gossamer-thin plot is more flimsy than some of the characters' dresses and at 146 minutes, the sequel overstays its welcome by the best part of an hour.
However, fans of the sassy gal pals will be in seventh heaven at the endless parade of chic couture and the return of Carrie's old flame Aidan (John Corbett), who stirs up long-dormant feelings.
The fashions might be designer label, but the film's sense of humour is bargain basement: Sex And The City 2 sniggers at bouncing cleavage in a wet T-shirt and a visibly aroused man in loose fitting linen trousers.
Girls just wanna have crude fun.
Neurotic writer Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is starting to realise that life after saying "I do" to paramour Mr Big (Chris Noth) isn't everything she thought it would be.
Samantha (Kim Cattrall) has moved back to New York, battling valiantly against menopause, and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) has forgiven adulterous husband Steve (David Eigenberg), targeting her rage instead at her chauvinistic boss.
Meanwhile, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is struggling to be the perfect wife to ever-dependable husband Harry (Evan Handler) and a perfect mother to their two daughters.
Thankfully, chesty Irish nanny Erin (Alice Eve) is always on hand to entertain the youngsters.
"There ought to be a law against hiring a nanny like that!" gasps Samantha.
"Yeah, the Jude Law," cattily retorts Carrie.
By chance - or rather dramatic contrivance - Samantha is invited to the United Arab Emirates to sample the delights of a newly opened luxury hotel, and she takes her chums along for the ride.
Sex And The City 2 is a succession of slick yet hollow set pieces, loosely stitched together to resemble a narrative, including a karaoke sequence to Helen Reddy's empowering anthem I Am Woman.
The film opens strongly with flashbacks to the characters in the 1980s, complete with bouffant hairdos and lurid clashes of colour, then segues into the commitment ceremony of Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson) and Anthony Marantino (Mario Cantone), with a cameo from Liza Minnelli as the minister, who rocks the reception with a high-energy rendition of Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).
Miranda is almost surplus to requirements and Carrie's vacillations once again take centre stage, culminating in a preposterous race around a spice market.
As the girls fly home after their desert adventure, a stewardess offers Carrie a customs form and asks if she has anything to declare.
"Yes, I'm a mess," confirms the writer. She might as well be speaking about the film.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 Jun 10
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