Sex and the City 2

Director: Michael Patrick King
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon
Releasing in cinemas 2 June 2010
Rated: MA 15+

It must be a good feeling to know you have a sure fire hit before you even make the film. Because of the success of the popular TV series and the first Sex and The City movie, you can be sure that any bullets fired by unwary film critics at Sex and The City 2 will go wide of their target. The proven formula and hype makes for big box office revenue.

Loaded with chick appeal, the film features more fashion changes than Coco Chanel ever thought possible (or indeed desirable) - not to mention the shoes. Reputedly the fashions and accessories for the picture billed out at $13 million, more than the total budget for many Aussie productions. Frankly the film runs about 30 minutes too long and has dull patches but it still covers all bases for the anticipated audience. The opening scenes are awash with Jewish humour at a gay wedding, there’s a ‘maze of menopause’ jokes from Samantha, and a sly tilt at Middle Eastern customs. The girls look older; though not much wiser.

It begins with a sumptuous wedding spectacle like something from the 30’s, as Carrie's friends Stanford (Willie Garson) and Anthony (Mario Canton) get married, happily jazzed up as Liza Minnelli moves it during a big band number in a guest cameo. Penelope Cruz also manages a quick appearance. For a while we’re treated to something of the original frothy and slightly raunchy material.

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Big (Chris North) argue over prosaic domestic matters, Samantha (Kim Cattrall) keeps an open eye on younger male prospects, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is concerned her hubby might be attracted by the well-endowed family nanny’s bra-less frolicking, and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is dumping her legal job.

Samantha cons a free trip for the friends to Abu Dhabi. After some touristy shots around the exclusive hotel, and a stomp through the sands in high heels, Carrie meets old boyfriend Aidan (John Corbett) in the spice market; while Samantha, flaunting everything she’s got, soon runs foul of the conservative local law enforcement. Naturally it all ends up just swell when they return home.

Sex and the City 2 lacks much of the zip of the first film outing of the fashionistas. After a flash opening, things settle down to a plodding middle act only picking up again at the end. Of course, young women will be entranced by the endless exotic fashions, even if they’d hardly be game to wear them in Collins Street on a dark night.

I’m putting my head on the chopping block by not being a great fan of Sarah Jessica - my favourite recollection of that lady was in the Steve Martin comedy L.A. Story (1991) where she played the bouncing unstoppable teenager. Kim Cattrall (The Ghost Writer) provides a comic libidinous aura to her flamboyant Samantha, and steals scenes for me at least.

Writer/director Michael Patrick King again follows the established pattern but fails to hold it together and allows scenes to run overtime. The pacing is - in a word - uneven. It pales against the first movie outing in 2008 of the fab girls. Cinematography and technical production spiffy to the standards one expects from Hollywood blockbusters. The sets and fashions glow with a technicolor radiance, and I should put in a special word for the makeup and hairstyle artists, who clearly worked overtime.

It might be argued that the girls’ conspicuous consumer spending in an era of financial gloom throughout the world could be somewhat reprehensible. That’s not a view likely to be shared by the enthusiastic femmes who will flock to buy tickets. A pity it’s not 3D.

John Bale