the Girls, the Sex, and the Potentially Offensive

First of all, note to all readers:  If you don't want to know too much about the movie because you have not yet seen it, then choose wisely.  Read on at your own accord!  Otherwise, join me for a Sex and the City 2 discussion!


Last night my friend and I paid our dues to our long-standing Sex and the City addiction.  It got me through college and served as my bible for sex and relationships.  And, like every other Sex and the City aficionado in the theater that night, I anxiously awaited the start of the sequel.  Of course, the glitz and glam oozed from the screen, and you were allowed a quick glance at what these characters looked like in the 80s.  However, the movie was not without story line twists and complications for the characters.  

Miranda faces a new boss who refuses to give her the time of day and must decide if her job is what defines her or if she is to take time off to find a more suitable job to fit her "I'm still a mom who wants to be there for my child and family," status.

Charlotte now has 2 children, and baby Rose won't stop crying.  She is at her whit's end, and Samantha unknowingly leads her to worry about her husbands fidelity with the bra-less Irish nanny.

Samantha is, of course, the sexual fiend of the crew.  However, she is suddenly finding herself menopausal as well as restrained by the laws and customs of the Middle East.  She also has a moment with Miley Cyrus, who cameos in the movie in the same dress as Samantha at a NYC premier. 

And, of course, Carrie - main character and new two-year wife to Big.  She finds herself in the dilemma of defining her relationship with Big and not wanting to become an "old married couple," among other things.


However, the kicker?  They fly to the Middle East, all expenses paid, as a result of one of Samantha's new business propositions.  Of course, this ultimately sets up the girls to be exploring Abu Dhabi and a new culture, one with very different rules for women, sex, male/female interactions, and culture in general.  While this initially, to me, seemed like an interesting way to bring light to some of the amazing cultural opportunities in the Middle East, I, instead, found myself cringing through most of the movie.  The girls, Miranda aside, turned into "typical American tourists," emitting an aura of ignorance and living in a constant state of "open mouth, insert foot."  And of course, Samantha has to push the sexual envelope and finds herself thrown in jail after a very public display of affection with a Danish architect, which can be seen as a warning to tourists (Americans especially) about "Be careful what you do and where you do it"....we are not the owners of the world, around whom everything revolves!  Unfortunately, every scene came across with an aftertaste of mockery and disdain.  And all I could think about was "Why did you have to go and make fun of / film in the Middle East?!  Why couldn't you have gone to Europe or China or somewhere that doesn't already completely hate America!?!"  UGH!  Good movie with some good relationship, women-friendly messages, but the messages were muddled - at least for me - because I found myself watching the movie in a constant stage of discomfort / cringing-shocked-horror.  


Anyways, again, if you have seen the movie I'd love to know your take.  If you haven't, it's good, but just be prepared.  There are, though, some wonderful messages, insights, and, of course, fashions to be taken away from the movie!!  Regardless, I still secretly want to be Carrie.  :-)