'Sex and the City’ hype a bit too “Carried” away
By Lindsay Rice, Staff Writer
June 3, 2008 | 7 p.m.
Start shaking up the cosmopolitans and strapping on those Manolo Blahnik heels -- the fabulous foursome of "Sex and the City" has hit Hollywood. The highly anticipated transformation of the HBO series to feature film finally arrived Friday, managing to capture the essence of the show with all the grandeur of the silver screen.
The story is infamous now, but what follows is a rundown for our friends not in-the-know. Sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) manages to find true love in the harsh city of New York, but only with the help of her sisters in spirit. Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), former owner of a successful NYC public relations firm, manages the career of her boyfriend, hunky actor Smith (Jason Lewis) -- in L.A., unfortunately. Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) lives an idyllic life with her husband and adopted daughter. Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) juggles a busy life as a mother to one and a wife to bartender Steve (David Eigenberg) at her home in Brooklyn, while also earning the dough as a hard-hitting lawyer downtown.
Carrie’s life is almost too wonderful with her upcoming wedding to the unattainable Mr. Big (Chris Noth) and the dream apartment, or dream closet, rather, just waiting for her endless wardrobe of Chanel and Gucci.
The portrait of perfection painted in the beginning of the film hardly entails the heart-wrenching drama to come. One theme reigns throughout – the importance of friendship -- and with that, all wounds are healed.
Charlotte’s previous pregnancy problems seem to have diminished, while Miranda’s workaholic ways have not, eventually spurring unforeseen problems at home. Samantha’s continuous commute from Smith in L.A. to the girls in NYC signals some relationship red flags.
The movie is set three years after the HBO series’ last episode, facilitating the reality factor for some of the more aged characters and their aged appearances. Initially, “Sex and the City” appears to be aimed at the less avid series watchers who lack the previous background knowledge that proves relatively necessary to understanding the film’s beginning.
Specific nuances of the ladies’ distinct personalities are noticeable to die-hard fans, ultimately adhering to the “reality” established by the television show. These grounding points come in handy when the movie takes its more over-the-top turns, which does occur.
Director and writer Michael Patrick King stayed true to most aspects of the show “Sex and the City,” though the film adaptation definitely added more dazzle and glitz. This added sparkle and excitement ultimately detracted from the more endearing, lesson-learning tone that is characteristic of the small screen series.
The film is ripe with emotionally-charged scenes that are strategically complimented by the hilarious sexual humor that is signature of the show. Whether the girls are talking in code about their sex lives for the benefit of innocent ears or Samantha’s sexually eager puppy is getting more action than her, these humorous aspects offer solace from the storms of sentiment that prevail throughout the film.
Another familiar facet of the show that is fleeting but true-to-form is the mealtime gossip sessions, in which each woman’s personality usually shines through the most.
Viewers can still count on plenty of cocktails and couture, but be aware that the glamour of the silver screen overshadows the particularities of which big fans of the series may wish to see more.
The hype of the movie somewhat surpasses its originality and is, most likely, the primary reason for its success in the box office. Some hype and praise for “Sex and the City” is, for the most part, warranted.
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"Sex and the City"
Speakeasy Rating: B+
Run Time: 148 minutes
MPAA Rating: Rated R for nudity, language and sexual content.