There were some cringe worthy moments in SATC II, but there are also some scenes that harken back to the glory days of the series. It made me wish that instead of a a feature length film, they would make a SATC miniseries of say, six episodes for HBO again. The tightly constructed thirty minute shows involved each character having a story line tied together with a theme. In the movie the themes were about, women finding their voice, and figuring out how to combine tradition and individuality. As the movie opens, all the characters are struggling with this.
Carrie (is she nuts??) is finding marriage to Big to be less than exciting a bare two years after the wedding that almost didn't happen. I have to say, I thought their life together looked pretty good. I can think of worse things than watching old movies in bed with Big (Chris Noth).
Miranda is dealing with a senior partner at her law firm that dislikes her. Charlotte is finding motherhood more taxing and exhausting than she thought it would be (doesn't everyone?) and Samantha is determined not to let menopause slow her down (more power to her).
One of my big gripes is Samantha's story line. I think it's great to portray her as a sexy and brash, but couldn't they give her something else to do? Fighting off menopause is a one trick pony, that could have used some help. Also, she takes off to Abu Dhabi with no understanding of Arabic culture, behaving like one of the Pussy Cat Dolls, all the while hoping to win an account representing a posh hotel there. How can Samantha, who having built a successful PR business in cutthroat New York, jeopardize a multi-million dollar account even for the joy of a little illicit sex? Samantha is not that dumb even in the throes of a menopausal melt-down. The story could have been written so that when Samantha did have her melt-down, the audience would have been cheering instead of thinking she acted like an ass.
With Carrie, I know they had to add some drama, and it was good to see John Corbett again, but come on. Carrie didn't marry Aiden years before, because she couldn't let go of Big and now, she is tempted by him? When Carrie and Aiden kissed, it made her realize she loved Big. I was a little disappointed in a straight arrow like Aiden falling prey to temptation. I know being in a foreign country can make you do crazy things, but Aiden was most unforgiving about that sort of betrayal in the series.
I thought it cathartic when Carrie, sobbing, tells Charlotte that seeing Aiden reminded her of her old life and when she kissed him, she remembered what it was really like. "Running around New York like a crazy person trying to convince the one man I loved to love me back." When Samantha comes in and advises Carrie NOT to tell Big about the kiss, she seems almost wise.
Then there is the excellent scene with Charlotte and Miranda at the bar discussing motherhood and its frustrations (Sip). In the show, Miranda faced motherhood somewhat reluctantly and pretty much alone. She has no qualms about articulating how difficult it is. In the end Charlotte discovers that taking a break is not a bad thing after all.
While I thought I would enjoy the fun and flashiness of the girls' trip to the middle east, it became distracting. Too much time changing outfits, not enough time spent on a more interesting and cohesive plot.
The bottom line is the series was at its best when it focused on the friendship between the four women. Like Samantha said, "Men, babies, doesn't matter, we made a deal a long time ago. We're soul mates." If there is another movie, the writers would do well to remember that.
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