Safe "Sex"

So I've seen the Sex and the City film twice. My first experience was in the company of my mother at an afternoon showing in Houston, Texas. My second experience found me with my darling roommates in the middle of Times Square, NYC at night.

Needless to say, drastic difference in audience.

What can I say about this movie? I love SATC as a television show. I even watch it compulsively on TBS on weekedays even though its edited and like, half of Samantha's antics are cut out of entire episodes. I AM Charlotte York (with a little Miranda on the side). So I had high expectations for the film as every fan would.

I can't say that I blindly loved it or hated it. The film gave its core audience what it wanted: fun and fabulous females, 10 years older and wiser. There was laughing, crying, and of course sex. But the X-factor to put the film above and beyond its television predecessor just wasn't there for me. The sex scenes seemed stilted and placed in the film as an obligatory gesture to bygone days of its heyday on HBO. There was lots of reminiscing, particularly in the dress up scene in which Carrie tries on her clothes from her past. But with that reminiscing came less sharp-tongued wit and banter that I knew and loved.

The cast additions (Jennifer Hudson, this means YOU) actually hurt the film. Besides her awful delivery of lines, sweet Louise from St. Louis (how pun-ny you are, Carrie!), became a stereotypical Mammy figure for a jilted Carrie. As her personal assistant, Hudson paraded around as a "sista girl" complete with her no-nonsense attitude, penchant for L.O.V.E...and her rented Chanel bag. SATC has always been criticized for its lack of racial and cultural diversity and the inclusion of Hudson in the cast in an underdeveloped role seemed like a slap in the face.

Still, despite its problems in representation (because c'mon...what commercial text doesn't have this issue), it brought the girls back in action. Sarah Jessica Parker had a standout performance as Carrie and successfully "carried" the film. Like critic Richard Roeper, I would have liked them to utilize the supporting cast that made them so successful a little more. Steve and Harry were mere doormats in the whole film.

Albeit generic, the movie was endearing. Thanks to SJP, Michael Patrick King, HBO, Starbucks, Vitamin Water, and every other product and designer that was shamelessly promoted.

Rating: B