Sex and the City 2 review

First things first – let me say that I went into the screening of this film with an open mind. I liked the series, disliked the first film (very half-assed and overlong, I think), and I hated the numerous columns over the past few weeks slagging off Part 2, written mostly by journalists who hadn’t seen it yet.

Now, I’m sorry to say, the naysayers were right. Sex and the City 2, starved of humour and pizzazz, is (not exaggerating) a 2 and a half hour long mess of thin plotting and lifestyle porn. Not much of the film takes place in New York and there are only two brief sex scenes, so it doesn’t even deliver on its title’s promise.

Anyway, in a nutshell – Carrie is annoyed that her rich, patient, handsome husband enjoys staying in and ordering takeaways, Charlotte is worried that her voluptuous nanny will tempt her husband, Samantha worries about getting old and Miranda has a sexist boss. So, when Samantha (through an outrageous plot contrivance similar to a wish-granting Middle-Eastern genie), bags a luxurious, all-expenses paid to Abu Dhabi for 4, they all go.


Some prudent editing might have made this film more watchable: its running time could easily have been shaved off about 90 minutes. In fact, there is some good material here. The opening act shows glimpses of the girls when they first arrived in New York followed by a tender wedding scene of one of their friends. And it’s funny and warm. Carrie and Big’s TV-in-the-bedroom argument is also quite plausible. From then on the film wanders around mercilessly.

Much of the running time is spent marvelling at interiors, shoes and luxury services and products. Is this what women fantasise about? Posh hotels and shoes?

I won’t dwell too much on the alleged racism, but I will say that for a film that celebrates consumerism and insular selfishness, SATC2 is very judgemental of more sexually conservative cultures. Most of the Middle Eastern natives are servile hunks, harassing street vendors or religious fundamentalists.

Oh and why is Charlotte’s nanny Irish? How is the plot or character better served by casting an English actress (Alice Eve) and having her put on a terrible brogue? Every time she turns up some infuriating diddly-eye jig music starts. Ara begorrah, sure she’s so backward she doesn’t even wear a bra!

And another thing: Why do Lisa Minnelli and Miley Cyrus cameo as themselves, but poor Penelepe Cruz is stuck playing a random Spanish lady? That doesn’t make sense to me at all.

With this lazy, soggy film the makers of SATC2 have done 2 things: They’ve proven the grumpy naysayers right, and they’ve further sullied a once-deservedly beloved TV show. Bravo!