Sex and the City: The Movie Deserves a Second Look, Say Fans and Critics Alike
A new generation is discovering the enduring appeal of Sex and the City, and a reassessment of its 2008 film sequel is underway. The original HBO series, a cultural touchstone for millennials, found a surprising audience with Gen Z through meme pages and, more recently, its availability on streaming platforms like Netflix. While the revival And Just Like That… has faced criticism, many are finding themselves drawn back to Sex and the City: The Movie, a film initially dismissed by critics but now viewed by some as a worthy companion piece.
The film arrived during a peak in cinematic experiences for millennial women, often involving group outings and themed refreshments. Released in 2008, it picks up the narrative threads from the series finale, detailing the lives of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) in the years following the show’s conclusion. Carrie continues her complicated relationship with Mr. Big, Charlotte and Harry navigate parenthood, Samantha builds a career in Los Angeles, and Miranda makes a move to Brooklyn.
However, the film wasn’t without its detractors. Critics at the time labeled it “shallow and bloated,” a sentiment that persists for some viewers. The plot, as one observer succinctly put it, involves “a near-wedding, a breakup, a pregnancy, a tragically horny dog, some questionable product placement, a trip to Mexico that leads to a faecal incident, and then an actual wedding.”
Indeed, the film’s flaws are readily apparent. Its 142-minute runtime feels excessive, and the narrative often devolves into farcical scenarios. The story frequently centers Carrie’s experiences to the detriment of her friends, and the film has been criticized for instances of fat-shaming. If the series offered a glimpse into a lavish lifestyle, the movie fully embraces the absurdity of its characters’ privilege, with extravagant displays of wealth and effortless solutions to personal problems.
Yet, beneath the surface of excess, the film resonates when it focuses on the unwavering support the four women provide each other. Moments of genuine connection – Samantha bringing Carrie yoghurt during a period of heartbreak, Miranda offering a safe haven on New Year’s Eve, Charlotte’s fierce defense of a friend – highlight the core strength of the franchise. “The movie, like the show, only makes sense when it’s exploring the inexplicable bonds among these four women and what it means to be a true friend,” one commentator noted.
A particularly poignant scene depicts Carrie and Miranda sharing a Valentine’s Day dinner, both navigating heartbreak and unspoken secrets. Their ensuing argument, raw and emotionally honest, feels remarkably relatable. According to reports, Parker and Nixon deliver a performance that “almost feels improvised,” capturing the complexities of female friendship with striking authenticity.
Crucially, the film is accessible even to those unfamiliar with the series’ extensive backstory. Viewers don’t need to know the details of Carrie’s past relationships or the intricacies of her friends’ personal histories to grasp the central theme: four women navigating life and supporting each other through the ever-shifting landscape of relationships. It’s a celebration of imperfect friendships, a testament to the enduring power of female bonds.
Sex and the City: The Movie is currently available to stream on Binge and Prime Video in Australia, Netflix in the UK, and HBO Max in the US.
