Sex And The City 2

These days, Carrie Bradshaw is synonymous with Manhattan as she prances around the City with gal pals Charlotte, Miranda and, of course, Samantha in some of the most glamorous attire known to fashion. Finally in 2010, the world is once again met with these four women who aim to take over Manhattan with glamour, sex, martinis and success as they stomp their way through life in four-inch heels. Sex and the City 2 takes us on a journey with many familiar faces through some new ventures in and across the world to the Middle Eastern haven Abu Dhabi. The newest episode, follows the ladies as they struggle to come to terms with many of life’s inevitable truths. With this chapter, Michael Patrick King asks the question, what happens when you finally get everything you ever thought you wanted in the greatest city in the world?

Sex and the City 2, leaves us two years down the line from our last excursion with the women of Manhattan with Carrie as a new bride, birthing Charlotte, newly reunited Miranda with estranged hubby Steve and just as newly single Samantha. Much like the former film and seven year series, the writing incorporates the ladies into each other’s lives in such a way that seams the show together through the familiar narrative of Mrs. Carrie Bradshaw, oops Preston. Carrie and Big, finally named officially John Preston are happily married, living in their larger-than-possible Manhattan apartment struggling to keep the passion alive. Meanwhile fellow marrieds Charlotte and Miranda, deal with many life changes of their own while maintaining a secure sense of who they are apart from their domestic responsibilities.

Specifically, Upper East Side Charlotte faces the trials of mothering a screaming terrible two as well as a rebellious five year old who craves attention. As a proper lady of Manhattan, Charlotte employs an Irish nanny to help watch the children during social occasions despite her lack of career or responsibilities. Miranda, on the other hand becomes overworked and faces the dilemma of career versus family, where she just may become the mother and wife she never thought she could be. And finally, sex-crazed Samantha, refuses to accept her menopausal state as she sails right on past fifty with a sex drive that could compete with any teenage boy. These days, Samantha spends the majority of her time determined to trick her body, like her notoriously active libido, into believing its many years younger.

SATC 2, of course, cannot exist without the characters first created by Candace Bushnell, seven season series on HBO, and previous film to credit the creation of what has now become a cultish fascination with the players. Although the series proved to be wildly successful, the character chemistry falls somewhere between the show and the abysmal nature of the 2008 cinematic showcase. This time around, writer and director King gives the audience a storyline based on the tribulations of life rather than a series of forced circumstances and a soap opera-like drama we so painfully had to endure two years ago.

The sequel is by far superior much in part to the recent revisiting of some forgotten characters such as Carries ex-fiance and fan favorite Aiden, played by John Corbet. The actors finally settle back into the roles we fell in love with so many years ago.

King is fairly creative about moments of reminiscence, by letting us back into Carrie’s old apartment, into her closet and out the door in a newspaper print dress many remember from a frigid confrontation with Big’s ex-wife Natasha. These instances are of course added for the true fan follower, and yet a new viewer wouldn’t feel left out as the rest take a stroll down memory lane. As the past moves on, we are then brought into the future as the friends embark on a journey to what they call the “New Middle East.” As the girls are placed out of their concrete comfort zone and into the desert, they are anything less than uncomfortable for even a moment in the castle-like accommodation of Abu Dhabi. This sort of frivolous excursions, seem to be a new trend in the lives of the ladies, as they all somehow can always manage a week away from their lives to shop, strut and drink their days dry. These single girls no more, manage to drop everything with very little notice for a fairly needed vacation from their somewhat cushy lives. And somehow in this city so far away, the New Yorkers find refuge in the still conservative land when they learn that even head to toe covered women are inevitably just like everybody else.

Despite not only the fashion, but cultural impact of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha, the Sex and the City venture must come to a stop. Although this film saved a fair amount of credit the show had so carefully put in place, the ladies should in fact hang their heels to save the last bit of integrity the show has to offer. Carrie Bradshaw will forever remain a staple in Manhattan life and yet furthering the partnership may in fact ruin the love forever. Fans will continue to embrace the future of Sex and the City if it continues, but the truth is, these much admired girls may need to once and for all leave the life of luxury to the rest of us.