Dueling Critics
Sex and the City; You either love it or hate it
Sex and the City
By Megan Staab
Ok. I hate to admit it, but here it is. I was excited about seeing Sex & the City, and you know what? I really enjoyed it. Go ahead and judge, but for all those Sex & the City fans (and you know who you are), you will enjoy this movie. The movie picks up four years after the final episode of the series. Samantha (Kim Cattrall) lives in L.A. and is Smith Jarred’s (Jason Lewis) girlfriend and agent; Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is living with Steve (David Eigenberg) in Brooklyn; Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is still in wedded bliss with her husband, Harry (Evan Handler) and her daughter; Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is still with Big (Chris Noth) in separate apartments in New York City. What ensues is a journey of heartbreak and self-discovery. Carrie and Big become engaged, Charlotte gets preggers, Samantha rethinks L.A., and Miranda deals with a blunder within her marriage. Of course, all these events are mixed with plenty of tears, laughter, and designer labels. I have to say the label dropping got a bit excessive at times. Yes, it’s pretty and all, but come on - it’s just stuff. The movie runs about two and a half hours, and I felt like I was watching a mini-season of the show. Here’s my disclaimer: if you didn’t watch the show or like the show you will not like this movie. ONLY FOR SEX & THE CITY FANS!
Sex and the City
By David Vicari
At one point in the Sex & the City movie, Carrie Bradshaw, after a horrible breakup with her fiancé, says, “I thought I’d still be in extreme pain,” to which a gentleman a few rows in back of me replied,“ Like the audience.” One problem is that everything about this movie is bland, from the characters and performances to the directorial approach. Writer/director Michael Patrick King has primarily worked in series television, including the Sex & the City show, so that’s why it felt like I was watching five episodes strung together and not a real movie. I ask you this: Why would I even care about these women? They are materialistic snots. Would any of them give selflessly to a worthy charity? Probably not, since they are too busy hunting down the most chic of designer labels. I know what you’re thinking: I’m a guy so I automatically hate chick flicks. That’s not true. When they came out I championed such movies as Legally Blonde, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Mean Girls. Hell, I even liked The Notebook – but don’t spread that around. Plus, I always look forward to a new movie by filmmaker Nicole Holofcener (Friends With Money, Lovely & Amazing, Walking and Talking) because her films are funny, perceptive and thoughtful. You know, everything that Sex & the City isn’t.