Get Carried Away

There are good films and bad films, and there are mediocre films, and then there are films which are so delightful that they capture an audience despite their flaws, Sex and the City is such a film. Being a huge fan of the original series upon which this film is based, I have a vested interest in this film, and for fans of the series it doesn't disappoint, the film reunites the cast of the series, with some notable additions, and is directed by Michael Patrick King, director of many of the episodes of the original HBO series, and is produced by Darren Star and Sarah Jessica Parker, both producers of the original series. Thematically the film deals with the subject of marriage and weddings and what it really means to have one's 'happily ever after'.

The film has the same structure as the series, in the series each episode dealt with a certain issue, and the issue was discussed by these women as the episode progressed. The film takes a similar approach, albeit on a slightly grander scale, with the film spanning a year in the lives of these characters, yet retains the rounded feel of the series, with the film coming to a rounded and satisfying conclusion, and ending with the Carrie concluding on her opinion about that particular issue.

The film takes place in real time, this movie came out in 2008, and the series ended in 2004, so the film takes place four years after the end of the series, i feel that this a smart move, as it enables the film to analyse how far the relationships have progressed in the past four years, the opening sequence of the film is long, clocking in at over 5 minutes, yet is economical in the way it allows us to catch up with all the characters in a very short time, meaning that all the action of the main film takes place in what i like to refer to as 'real time'. The films use narration also helps with this, allowing this sequence to be, yes, long, but economical. The use of music in the film is great, and this film has a great soundtrack, music is often used in transitional moments, and the soundtrack has a great eighties throwback feel.

This film is very long, at over two and a half hours, this film does have some pacing issues, and the last quarter of the film does lead the audience wondering where the film is going, but despite this the first three quarters of the movie are really not bad, and the film has a fun script, many of the films moments of dialogue are great, and contain the same acerbic humor as in the original series. The film is, like the show, set mainly in new york city, and is just as fashion oriented as the original series was, Pat Field returns as costume designer, and the costumes really give us an insight into how these characters have developed in the past four years.

The film has a lot of problems, and those who are not fans of the series will likely loath it, however for those of us who are fans, the film is a fun continuation, that is too delightful to resist, and which despite its convoluted story, has a good script with some fun dialogue, and has a surprising number of laugh out loud moments, and a feel good ending. Rating: B

Carrie Bradshaw: Millions of women come to New York for the two L's: Labels and Love.