Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Less in the City

I saw Sex and the City The Movie in the theater when it first came out. Like about a million other women, we had a girl's night out to go see it. We went to a new theater downtown that serves alcohol, so it was festive (read: there was much talking to the screen, many trips to the bathroom and more than a few convivial guffaws.) I loved the series. I was so sad when it ended four years ago and have watched the episodes over and over since then. It is an understatement to say that I was excited about the movie. Revisiting my old friends: Carrie, Big, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha. Not surprisingly, my expectations were high.

I am sorry to say that I was disappointed. If this had been an episode on HBO, I probably would have been satisfied. I had built it up so much, though, that it would have had to be pretty amazing to meet my expectations. Big standing Carrie up was so wrong. And not just because it's a crappy thing, but because I felt that Big was way too confident to have a crisis of faith like that. On top of that, the movie definitely could have been cut down a half hour or so. The closet scene trying on all the old outfits: out. The wedding dress photo shoot: much shorter. I mean, I love fashion, but come on. The Mexico sequence: WAY too long. Charlotte pooping her pants. Puh-lease.

Despite my misgivings, I decided to watch it again. Give it another chance. So I moved it to the top of the Netflix queue and excitedly awaited its arrival. Last night, I sat down to watch it while the babe slept and the husband World of Warcrafted in the other room, safely avoiding any chance of having his "man card" revoked for setting eyes on the well dressed quartet. I still didn't love it. The things I felt wonky about in the theater weren't minimized on the small screen. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they made a movie and I hope they make another one, because I would like to know where the characters go from here, but I think I'll wait for video next time.

16 comments:

  1. I had fun seeing it because it was a girl's night out. But. I agree with you that the film had some shortcomings. It was entertaining and if it hadn't been for gno I would have rented it.

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  2. Never got into the series so I avoided seeing the movie.
    But, I heard similar things from fans of the show.
    I have however gotten myself hooked on Lipsick Jungle which I have been watching on the NBC website and am so bummed that they give you a peak of the first 8 shows and then jump you to the middle of the series.
    I can see how you got hooked.

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  3. A theater with alchohol? How cool is that?

    (I never watched SIC, so I can't give an opinion)but I like the alchohol idea! ha ha

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  4. I have learned in my old age, that if you let yourself get really excited about anything, it will probably be a letdown. I am only a re-run watcher of SITC, so I liked the movie just fine (although, in retrospect, I agree with your observations). Twilight? Had NO expectations for it--and I ended up liking it a lot! Go figure!

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  5. I did not really watch the series so I loved the movie. But the best part of the whole movie was the girls night out.

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  6. LOL... I saw the series maybe twice, but then wanted to see a movie one day and it sounded good... AFTER seeing it I netflixed all the seasons... so yeah, i did it backwards. And in the end I agree, Big would never have that kind of issue. And the old clothes was MUCH too long. And the pooping pants part? Really, if I want that I'll watch dumb & dumber.

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  7. Ok ... STILL have NOT seen it. It has to do with my movie-viewing partner's preferrence for all things explosive and Angelina.

    Also, I'd prolly fall asleep 10 minutes in ... '09 is kicking my ass in the sleep arena.

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  8. Ok ... STILL have NOT seen it. It has to do with my movie-viewing partner's preferrence for all things explosive and Angelina.

    Also, I'd prolly fall asleep 10 minutes in ... '09 is kicking my ass in the sleep arena.

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  9. And they had so much to work with, you know? It was a great series with everywhere to take it in movie form and it just sucked. So disappointing.

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  10. I loved the show and liked the movie. It was entertaining. I have to admit, I teared up a bit when Big stood Carrie up at the alter.

    I didn't see it in the theater though, which means I may have liked it less had I gone. Since movies are so expensive I never go and if I do and don't love the movie, I get pretty disapointed.

    Still, I'm cool with Carrie and co. on the big screen. I would watch a sequel but I still probably wait until it was on DVD.

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  11. I caught on to the series late, but loved it (though I watched the "edited" version on television, not the HBO one). I saw the movie a couple of months ago from the comfort of my own couch. I quite enjoyed the experience, but by the time I watched it, I heard heard all the positive and negative reviews and didn't have much invested in terms of expectations.

    It was shitty for Big to stand her up, but if she just would have had her phone earlier in the day, I know they could have figured it out and he would have made it.

    By the way, I am incredibly attracted to Chris Noth. Not sure why, just am.

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  12. Really? You didn't like it!? I loved the series, but I loved the movie too--I've seen it 4 times! I agree that some of it was a little silly--and you're right that Big's freakout was not typical of his character--but I still loved it!! I miss those girls...

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  13. Charlotte pooping herself wore me out. It was so out of character for her, which is why I'm sure Michael Patrick King put it in the movie. But still...didn't work for me.

    And Samantha not wanting Smith anymore? TRAVESTY. That whole scenario with her sex-loving, outdoor showering neighbor was just eh. EH!

    I agree...the movie was too long. 5 minutes of Mexico would've sufficied. But hello--that scene with Samantha feeding Carrie? Best ever! Seriously, my favorite moment in the entire film.

    Ahhhh...
    those 4 gals and their shoes. I miss 'em.

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  14. Totally...you can have a girls night IN instead, rent the video & drink for a lot less $$! Sounds like a plan.

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  15. Funny thing... I hired my friend's 16 year old daughter to babysit on New Years. I told her and her friend to buy what ever movie they wanted on On Demand. They bought SITC! I had been wanting to see it for so long but held out cause my sister-in-law wanted to watch it with me. I couldn't resist and watched it New Year's Day, with the two babysitters who spent the night(their 2nd viewing). I was shocked at how much it showed! I knew it would be explicit, but a penis shot, whoa! I felt bad, I don't think either of them had seen stuff like that! I have a message today from her mom to call me...I wonder what for!

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  16. Funny thing... I hired my friend's 16 year old daughter to babysit on New Years. I told her and her friend to buy what ever movie they wanted on On Demand. They bought SITC! I had been wanting to see it for so long but held out cause my sister-in-law wanted to watch it with me. I couldn't resist and watched it New Year's Day, with the two babysitters who spent the night(their 2nd viewing). I was shocked at how much it showed! I knew it would be explicit, but a penis shot, whoa! I felt bad, I don't think either of them had seen stuff like that! I have a message today from her mom to call me...I wonder what for!

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Give me some sugar, baby!