The
reason
why
the
series
on
HBO,
'Sex
And
The
City" rocked,
was
because
the
four
women
at
its
center
were
smart
and
funny
and
genuinely
devoted
to
each
other
despite
their
differences.
Also
because
it
was
a
pleasure
to
see
a
show
that
celebrated
different
choices
for
adult
women
and
because
the
clothes
were
frothy
and
fetching
and
finally
because
it
was
sheer
fantasy,
but
one
in
which
we
could,
if
we
squinted,
recognize
ourselves
and
our
friends.
But
sadly,
after
having
been
converted
into
a
film
series,
the
same
does
not
hold
true
any
longer.
In
this
sequel
to
the
2008
released
first
film,
neurotic
writer
Carrie
Bradshaw
(Sarah
Jessica
Parker)
is
starting
to
realise
that
life
after
saying
"I
do" to
paramour
Mr
Big
(Chris
Noth),
isn't
everything
she
thought
it
would
be.
Samantha
(Kim
Cattrall)
has
moved
back
to
New
York
and
is
battling
valiantly
against
menopause,
and
Miranda
(Cynthia
Nixon)
has
forgiven
adulterous
husband
Steve,
targeting
her
rage
instead
at
her
chauvinistic
boss.
Meanwhile,
Charlotte
(Kristin
Davis)
is
struggling
to
be
the
perfect
wife
to
the
ever-dependable
husband
Harry
and
a
perfect
mother
to
their
two
daughters.
By
chance
or
rather
dramatic
contrivance,
Samantha
is
invited
to
the
United
Arab
Emirates
to
sample
the
delights
of
a
newly
opened
luxury
hotel,
and
she
takes
her
chums
along
for
a
ride.
Once
in
Abu
Dhabi,
they
revel
in
an
obscenely
expensive
hotel
suite
equipped
with
four
butlers,
sit
and
drink
in
the
bars
exactly
as
they
do
in
New
York
and
go
camel-riding
in
the
desert,
wearing
special
camel-riding
outfits
purchased
that
day
at
Dior.
Problems
arise
when
Carrie's
ex,
Aidan
(John
Corbett),
mysteriously
shows
up,
in
Abu
Dhabi,
and
there
is
lingering
tension
over
whether
the
gals
will
get
to
the
airport
in
time
to
avoid
the
horrors
of
the
flying
coach.
Amongst
the
notable
sequences
of
the
film
are
-
Carrie"s
signature
narration
as
she
struggles
with
settling
in
to
a
married
life,
she
thinks
is
losing
its
“sparkle
as
she
does
make
some
poignant
observations
about
the
different
phases
of
a
woman"s
life,
especially
for
those
who
choose
not
to
have
children.
Then
there
is
the
bad
mother
confession
session
between
Miranda
and
Charlotte,
and
the
hot-flash
set
at
Samantha"s
oversexed
(at
this
point,
uncomfortably
inappropriate)
experience
with
menopause.
But
then
these
small
moments
are
far
outweighed
by
the
film"s
extended
product
placement
sequences,
hawking
overpriced
goods
that
no
average
“SATC"
fan
could
ever
afford.
The
contradictions
grow
even
more
unpleasant
as
they
romp
about
Abu
Dhabi
indulging
in
the
city"s
excesses,
while
getting
some
stern
reminders
about
the
treatment
of
women
in
that
part
of
the
world.
Trite
attempts
to
navigate
across
the
cultural
divides
only
make
it
worse.
At
over
2
and
half
hours
of
running
time,
SATC
2
is
unspeakably
long,
so
there"s
plenty
of
space
to
fill
in
with
non-events.
Amongst
the
cast,
Kim
Catrall
easily
towers
above
the
rest
of
the
three
ladies
with
her
accurate
comic
timing.
However,
the
film,
for
all
its
faults,
is
not
a
bore.
In
the
latter
half,
it
is
as
mesmerizing
as
a
motorway
car
crash
played
in
slow-motion.
But
it
is
sad
to
observe
that,
unlike
most
women;
the
once-beloved
Carrie
and
co
have
got
significantly
sillier
with
age.
Sex
And
The
City
2:
Not
much
fun
in
here!
Rating:
2
out
of
5*
Starring:
Sarah
Jessica
Parker,
Kristen
Davis,
Cythia
Nixon
and
Kim
Cattrall
Director:
Michael
Patrick
King