Manhattan’s fabulous four added a touch of glamour to the Middle East, but “Sex and the City 2” could have used a little more city and a lot less sand.
If viewers are anticipating fashion forward wardrobes, sky-high stilettos and steamy sex scenes, this sequel might be slightly disappointing.
Seventy-five percent of the movie is shot in Abu Dhabi, and the remaining scenes are shot in Manhattan.
Samantha Jones scores a free trip to Abu Dhabi from the owner of a hotel who wants her to give his business national publicity. Of course, she wouldn’t accept the offer unless her three best friends were allowed to accompany her, and Samantha’s persistence wouldn’t let him refuse.
While the girls were in their far-fetched fantasy land, Carrie Bradshaw ran into her old flame Aiden. They shared a kiss in a moment of passion, but Carrie’s guilt led her to confess to Big.
Carrie’s situation played a small role in the feministic theme of the movie. Perfectly set in the Arabic demographic, the theme took off with women’s suffrage in the culture.
Samantha’s public promiscuity was not accepted in Abu Dhabi and eventually got her arrested after a makeout session on the beach.
Miranda Hobbes’ self-righteousness made her leave her position at the law firm after her demeaning boss oppressed her ideas and voice in the work place.
Charlotte York was battling her insecurities about her ultra-attractive nanny while being thousands of miles away from Harry and the kids.
Ultimately, each woman’s struggles played a significant and educational role in the theme, but the lavish trip in Abu Dhabi overshadowed the importance of the theme.
The situations became difficult to relate to.
One thing was certain, Manolo Blahnik shoes didn’t have many guest appearances in the Middle East.
The styles and outfits were nothing to clap about. Oversized jeweled tunics stole most of the scenes, but even when the girls were in the city, their wardrobes weren’t comparable to the die-for creations in the first movie.
Comparatively, the proceeding film was a 5 while this one was barely a two, but that’s not to say the movie wasn’t enjoyable. Samantha’s off-the-cuff comments provided comic relief from the heavy political burden in the movie and as always, Carrie’s wisdom provided the advice single and committed viewers were looking for.
The movie opened in a disappointing second place over the weekend to “Shrek Forever After.”
