Shattering the dream

WARNING: This blog has spoilers.

Like many other moviegoers, I eagerly anticipated the theatre debut of Sex and the City (SATC) 2. I finally saw it a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the only word I can think of to accurately describe the film is this: anti-climactic.

The first SATC film was fantastic in so many ways. It continued the story that ended with the television series, and explained the three year gap between series and film quickly and efficiently. It was a long film – they both were – but so many things happened in the first one to keep the audience interested. Big left Carrie at the altar, Steve cheated on Miranda, Samantha left Smith, and Charlotte got pregnant. There was TONS of content, and it all was well-placed and paced. The timing for the film was also great, and I believe about a year lapsed from the first scene to the closing credits.

Now, many people may hate me for tearing apart the second film, but I feel it must be done. I was very, very excited to see what happened next. Stanford and Anthony got married, which anyone could have seen coming. But, to make the wedding exaggerated and unrealistic, they had Liza Minnelli marry them.

Really? Come on now.

One of the things I loved about the television series was that it was more or less realistic. The characters struggled financially, they couldn’t just have anything they wanted, and they worked hard to become “someone’s” in a large city full of people. Women – and men – could relate to their struggles because they were real issues. SATC 2 lost that reality that made the show so popular.

Oh, yes, and Liza Minnelli also serenaded the newlyweds with a rendition of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Ugh.

Moving on.

In the first film, the four girls went to Mexico on Carrie’s honeymoon. This worked with the plot, and it made sense. In the second film, however, the four went to Abu Dhabi. Samantha managed to finagle a free PR trip, and was able to take her friends with her. The trip was half fashion show, half “look how rich we are.” Each woman had her own private butler, they were dressed to the tits in every scene, and they wandered through the desert wearing heels.

Then, Carrie ran into Aiden.

Their meeting was shown in the trailer, so naturally, everyone was expecting something BIG to happen. Nope. They kissed, Carrie took off, she told Big about it, and he forgave her. That was the huge drama that millions of people paid to see, and it wasn’t worth it.

Things went wrong with the other ladies as well, but like Carrie’s kiss, they were quickly and efficiently dealt with. Charlotte admitted that she couldn’t handle her children, but she got over it. Miranda quit her job, but she got a new one. Samantha was Samantha, and she was fine. She went to Smith’s movie premiere with him, but nothing happened between them.

So, in one word, the film was anti-climactic.

Overall, I feel cheated. The first film was good enough. The second film ruined it for everyone. I sincerely hope a third film isn’t made.