SEX AND THE CITY: Mainly For The Fans

SEX AND THE CITY (comedy)
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Jennifer Hudson, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler
Director: Michael Patrick King
Time: 146 mins

Rating: * * * (Out of 4)Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? This 'Big Screen Version' of HBO's adult TV comedy is basically for fans of the series and I must confess that I was one of them. Now, seeing the SATC girls on the big screen with their (touched-up) wrinkles, warts and all, I get a mix of nostalgia and deja vu. 'Sex And tHe City' can be rather self-indulgent sometimes and those who liked the series would have liked it for the F-words the series seem to propagate: feminine friendships, fabulous fashions, and the funny fumbles the four friends in New York make in their quest for love (and for some, sex).

Yes, these and the customary 'Gay is Fun' cameos which the series also propagated. I caught the Press preview today with my Other Half who served as Series Consultant, and helped somewhat to boost the nostalgia element. What I am trying to say here is that I was in a mood to overlook some of the movie's flaws and just went with the flow...

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The main theme here is 'forgiveness' (another F-word). Carrie (S.J. Parker, looking gaunt and sporting a prominent pimple on her chin) is back with Mr Big (Chris Noth, as hunky as ever) and they are deciding to get married. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) who just has sex in like... after six months(?), is angry at Steve for a betrayal. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and her Jewish hubby are the proud parents of an adopted daughter; and Samantha (Kim Cattrall, well botoxed now) is living in Los Angeles with her actor boyfriend, drops by often enough to join her friends and acquaint them with her sexual frustrations.

And yes, there is a bit of 'friction' between Carrie and Miranda at New Year's Eve...

HITS & MISSES: It is nice to see the SATC stars back together again and the girls' 'reunion' comes with nifty one-liners and some laugh-out-loud moments, especially that gag about Charlotte's bowel problem. However, at almost two-and-a-half hours, the comedy can be a drag sometimes, especially when some of the situations seem badly contrived. However, Jennifer Hudson helps to spice up the narrative with her cameo as Carrie's assistant - and she seems to be the only lure for the non-fans and younger ones in the audience. Still, director Michael P. King, who had worked on some episodes of the series, has more or less 'kept the faith' and the spirit of the show although he has essentially taken a half-hour episode and padded it up with two hours of 'extras'.

THE LOWDOWN: A fun and fitting reunion for fans and the cast of the TV series.