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As Sex and the City left the airways in 2004 all the women were left with their own little “happily ever after.” Now, four years later, we are brought back into the lives of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha and we get to find out what happens after. They’re a little bit older, maybe a little wiser and three of them, at least, are still battling that eternal struggle for perfect love. Charlotte still has hers.
When bringing a television show to the big screen there are two ways you can go. You can change the show–force it to be bigger since the screen and scope of the story are bigger–or you can stay true to the show and just tell a longer story. With Sex and the City writer/director Michael Patrick King chose to stay true to the show. And with a near two-and-a-half-hour running time, which translates to about five TV episodes, this film feels more like a seventh season than a movie.
As in real life, four years have passed for the women. Carrie is still dating Mr. Big and now they are finally looking to move in together. Things turn sour for them when they unceremoniously decide to get married; the event gets blown out of proportion to the point where it scares Big off, destroying Carrie. Miranda’s ideal life is shattered when her husband, Steve, admits that he cheated on her. Samantha is now living in L.A. with her actor boyfriend, but feels life has become stagnant. This fact isn’t helped any by the Casanova next door who is having lots of sex with lots of different women. Finally we have Charlotte whose life is still perfect. Her husband loves her, she has her adopted daughter and (to top it all off) she finds out she’s finally pregnant.
Over two and a half hours we follow these women as their dramas unfold. They have happy moments, they have sad moments, and they have those moments in-between. It’s a romantic comedy, but it’s a romantic comedy with six years history behind it.
If you’re a fan of the show then there is no doubt you’ll love the movie. The actors step back into these comfortable roles like a well loved pair of shoes. Sure, the characters are a little older, but they’re still the same characters you liked before. While the film does have a quick recap of the show in the beginning, if you not seen all 94 episodes you’re going to miss out on a lot. This is not a film that stands on its own but instead adds to the world of these beloved characters.
In this extended cut of the film you get a whopping six more minutes of footage that the filmmakers cut to quicken the pace for viewers. But now that it’s on DVD King has put back in these moments that he loved and didn’t want to cut. They are mostly just little character moments that don’t add to the overall story but are entertaining and none of it seems overly unnecessary.
Sex and the City: The Movie is presented in anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1. Sound is presented in Dolby Digital Surround 5.1. English and Spanish subtitles. This is a fine looking film. It’s very colorful and color most certainly pop on your TV screen.
Disc 1:
Commentary by Michael Patrick King: It is very obvious that King is very passionate about these characters and these actors. He loves writing for them, working with them and certainly talking about them. He points out the added moments and why he added them and he gives lots of great background information about the making of the film. It’s a little dry but it’s by no means boring.
Disc 2:
A Conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Patrick King: (23 min.) Parker and King talk about their favorite moments in the film and in the making of the film revealing some fun and entertaining stories. This is a decent special feature.
The Fabulous Fashion of Sex and the City: (18 min.) If you’ve watched any special features on the TV show then you know Patricia Field does all the costumes and fashion for the world of Sex and the City and you know that everyone loves her. This piece talks about what she did for the movie.
Additional scenes with optional commentary by Michael Patrick King: (4 min.) As if six minutes added to the film wasn’t enough, here are four more minutes that King liked but didn’t like enough to include in his extended cut. The optional commentary explains why.
Fergie in the Studio: (2 min.) Pop flash in the pan Fergie was brought into record a very annoying song for the film and this little piece is a mix of interviews with her and time in the studio. This extra is as worthless as the song.
Digital Copy of the film: As seems to be popular these days, you also get a free digital copy of the theatrical cut of the film.
If you love the show then you’ll love the movie, it’s a simple as that. And if you love the movie then you’ll most likely buy the film no matter what. But I must say, for a two-disc special edition, the extras were pretty slim and pathetic. Does that mean that a super special edition is lurking around the corner come Christmas? Who knows, but if you love the movie that much you’ll probably buy it again then too.
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New Line Cinema presents Sex and the City: The Movie (2-Disc Special Edition). Written and Directed by Michael Patrick King. Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth and Jennifer Hudson. Running time: 151 minutes. Not Rated. Originally rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language. Released on DVD: September 23, 2008. Available at Amazon.com.
About Mike Noyes
