Sex and the City: The Cinderella Movie

So I think I had the opposite reaction from what the movie-makers intended for everything in this movie. WARNING!! SPOILERS!! Let me break it down:

Carrie: I thought she was kind of annoying in the show, and the movie was no different. From the way she just accepts Big’s terrible proposal to get married for real estate convenience’s sake, to the way she beats him over the head with her flowers when he gets cold feet. I actually felt bad for the guy for most of the movie! And I used to think he was a … you know… lame (censored). All in all, for being a writer, Carrie is very bad at communicating and it drives me crazy.

Miranda: Also thought her character acted ridiculously. Yes, Steve cheats on her, but again I felt bad for the guy. He had a one night stand because he couldn’t get any lovin from his own wife. And I thought Miranda liked sex?? I guess it just goes to show how terrible it is to be a working mom, that you just ignore your husband and are drained of all sexual energy. Right. But I don’t entirely blame her. Steve should have spoken up if he was in such a bad place, before the cheating could occur. So I’m glad Miranda got her senses back in the end… and they all lived happily ever after.

Charlotte: The most Cinderella story of them all, which left me scratching my head. What are these producers telling us? That true, terrifying happiness can be achieved… as long as you have a happy (and sex-filled) marriage, are making a family, and don’t have to worry about money/working? Well, gee, no kidding. And how many people can actually claim these things? Not to mention, if you’re pregnant and you’re over the age of 40, aren’t there bound to be certain complications? But no, not for Charlotte. Because somehow she played her cards right and hit the Park Avenue jackpot.

Samantha: Why was she in LA?? The movie is not “Sex and the Two Coastal Cities.” The movie could have been a lot funnier (and it was missing a lot of the show’s original humor) if she had left Smith (sorry, Smith!) earlier on and come back to NY for some real hijinks. Not just staring at her neighbors so viewers got some soft-corn action. Boring. But then I just had a thought… Samantha is turning 50?? That’s like… my mom’s age (no offense intended). It’s just now that I think about it, What are these girls doing??

I’m probably coming off as very anti-feminist right now. So I have to remind myself that this IS a fairy-tale/fantasy. I think these characters exist for other women to live vicariously through, regardless of whether or not they could actually exist in real life. And apparently a lot of women liked the movie (and now they’re going to do a sequel?? What kind of storylines are left??) but I felt it too melodramatic and materialistic. And maybe the age-thing factored in—so would I have enjoyed it more if it centered around characters like Carrie’s personal assistant? Perhaps. Then again I’m reminded of why I normally steer clear from chick flicks: they’re unsatisfying. Unrealistic, predictable, and pretty clichéd. So Cheng, you should be grateful I didn’t make you watch this one with me!