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The long anticipated movie is finally upon us and a few sayings come to mind: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", "Better leave good enough alone", and to steal one from the perfection that was Sex and the City's HBO series "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda". Meaning, they could've really done something fantastic with this film, they would've impressed the pants off of everyone if they had tried a little harder to stay true to the show, and they should've really knocked this one out of the park. Instead, I was left feeling completely unsatisfied. Okay, not COMPLETELY, but mostly.
First and foremost, Carrie was never meant to get married. Big got it right when he told her she "wasn't the marrying kind". When even the show's writers claimed she'd never get married I was a bit disappointed to see that she tied the knot in the film. I was impressed that they called the big wedding (pun intended) off early on in the film, but admittedly disappointed (after my initial romantic sigh of relief) that they ended up as Mr. and Mrs. Preston in the end.
Secondly, if they are going to include secondary characters in the film as in the show - ie. Stanford, Smith, Harry, Steve and even Anthony - they should give them the attention and screen time they deserve. I realise that some of these men weren't a huge part of the story but why even include them in the film if they aren't going to add to the story! I mean, I LOVE Stanford, but he had no place in the movie other than to be there "FOR THE FANS" as they keep saying.
Thirdly, if this film really was "for the fans" then why, as a fan of the show, do I feel so let down? There was a rumour that someone died in the film, and even though I wasn't really ready to see one of the girls go, it would've been so much more final if someone had. I don't mean to sound morbid or depressing, but something tragic needed to happen in this film. There was very little cynicism, bitterness, or real sadness. Yes, there was heartache, but that is not the only sadness that we feel in life and certainly not the only sadness we want to see on screen.
What did I like about this film? What did I really, really, like? I liked that Miranda eventually forgave Steve, but would've liked if she had never left him in the first place. A few strategically placed fights between the two of them would've added some well needed power to the film. I liked that Samantha left Smith but would've liked to have seen her leave him earlier on in the film so that we could see the old Samantha (pun intended, again) in her element again. I liked that Charlotte got pregnant and had her own baby, but really, really would have liked to have seen her giving birth. That was such a huge thing when Miranda had her baby and I think it should've been equally if not more huge for Charlotte in this film.
Charlotte was mostly flawless in this film and was given all of the important roles. She was the one who consoled Carrie on the street after Carrie reamed out Big for not showing up at the wedding, she was the one who got to yell at Big twice over the issue, and she was the only one who really stayed true to the character we all loved on the series. Yes there were moments of the other girls being their true selves, but the brutal Samantha comments were few and far between, Miranda was too emotional rather than cynical (and mentioned having a 'family' and 'real job' too often), and Carrie was too sad. I don't even think Sarah Jessica Parker shook her head in the obnoxiously 'Carrie' way when speaking about sad things. (To see what I'm referring to, watch the episode where she begs Aidan to forgive her for cheating on him - The line "You have to forgive me" is accompanied by annoying shaking of her head back and forth as if secretly willing him to say 'no').
I will probably re-read this little review of mine later today and have more to say or things to change, but as it stands this is my piece.
I enjoyed the film because it was new SATC stuff for me to watch after so many years of re-watching the DVDs of the series, but I was not satisfied.
But then again, how often as were left feeling completely satisfied these days anyway?
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