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Sex and the City (2008)
Director: Michael Patrick King
Movie review
From Time Out New York
Sex and the City was the kind of show that actually improved over time—and not just for us straight guys tuning in for girlie gossip. What started off as Cosmo-lubricated escapism (especially in Candace Bushnell’s original design) slowly began to gain heft, as the real subject came into view: mortality. Men would never fully complete these women, nor would sex, though the show’s fuck-me feminism was certainly welcome. When brassy Samantha (Cattrall), the series’s finest creation, quietly broke down at a funeral, we were suddenly watching real drama.
You’ll hear much sniffling in your dolled-up audience as this mega-anticipated film version unspools. That’s actually a good thing: Sex and the City, written and directed by the show’s most intelligent helmer, Michael Patrick King, is a proper evolution, gradually empowered, honest and loaded with candy-colored anxiety. Yes, Big (Chris Noth) and Carrie (Parker) plan a gorgeous wedding, complete with a Vogue photo shoot. But he bails at the last minute, stranding her at the altar. For the next two hours plus, the movie is a mourning story, a resiliency tale. Tears are shed in a Mexican retreat. Hair is dyed dark. It’s serious-period Woody Allen, if he were a better shopper.
Carrie hires an intuitive assistant (Jennifer Hudson, better than in her overrated Dreamgirls turn) to help her go through the wreckage of her life, and the film leans into some rebirth clichés—even literally, when Charlotte (Davis) suddenly turns up preggers. But here too is cheating, jealousy and smugness. More subtly, can you think of the last time a Hollywood movie starred four cougars? (Hollywood needs SATC more than HBO does.) Of course, there’s room for multiple resolutions that accommodate forgiveness—and truthfulness. In a sense, that’s the happiest ending of all for a show that required its wrinkles more than it knew.
Author: Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out New York Issue 661: May 29–June 4, 2008
User reviews of this film
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- Ali said...
- Posted on May 29 2008 17:47 I am disgusted that you gave away the pivotal plot point about Big and Carrie. I wanted a review, not a recap! That's just HORRIBLE and this review should be taken down immediately!
- Report as inappropriate
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- Laura.J said...
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Posted on May 29 2008 12:54
You all need to let it go.
Sharon said what happened in a bit of the film then Casey had a go at her.
No one else does for gods sake.
The film was ok, but it was too long and it could have been made shorter but yeah it's something you can go to see with fellow women. - Report as inappropriate
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- Lynne said...
- Posted on May 29 2008 12:14 These are not "cougars", they are women. Sexist idiocy.
- Report as inappropriate
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- jan said...
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Posted on May 29 2008 02:33
dude go back to school -- you are in the wrong profession. repeat: you don't know how to write a film review!!
read other reviews, learn something , i'd hit ebert any ol time before this piece of crap - Report as inappropriate
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- Remy said...
- Posted on May 29 2008 02:30 man you really suck.
- Report as inappropriate
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- ashtma said...
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Posted on May 29 2008 02:28
wow it's like you're in middle school writing for the school newspaper . But worse.
thanks for killing it . it's a mindless movie but at least it was my mindless movie to enjoy. hey, some of us need escape from our crappy jobs. you shouldn't ruin it for others. i suggest the editors take this down. thanks. - Report as inappropriate
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- Patrice said...
- Posted on May 29 2008 00:25 Joshua Rothkopf you are an unprofessional jerk. You need to be a bus boy at a Denny's.
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- Ann said...
- Posted on May 28 2008 23:45 How could you give away the movie? That is really crappy and unprofessional.
- Report as inappropriate
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- Casey said...
- Posted on May 28 2008 22:30 I can't believe this review just gave away that Big leaves Carrie at the alter. I'm furious. You should have said spoiler warning alert. Seriously, this is less of a review and more of an outline of the plot that has been kept hush-hush. Joshua Rothkopf, you should be ashamed at yourself for spoiling the fun for anyone who reads your review.
- Report as inappropriate
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- Sharon said...
- Posted on May 28 2008 09:15 If Big bails and leaves Carrie at the alter I don't need to see the film
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Michael Patrick King
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Noth, Candice Bergen, Lynn Cohen, Mario Cantone full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Rated: R
Duration: 142 mins
US Release: May 30 2008
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