Sex and the City 2 opened in theaters on May 27, just in time for the summer movie rush.  At 12:01 a.m. my girlfriend and I were sitting in a theater with a pack of other women, gay men and straight men that were forced to attend by their dates.  Since its release Carrie and the girls have received a slew of negative reviews.  Not even the picturesque deserts of Morocco, Liza Minnelli, and the fabulous styling of Patricia Fields could deter the slaughter that was to come in the press.  Sex and the City 2 was accused of being “blatantly anti-Muslim,” showing “crass Materialism,” and “exploiting women’s and gay rights, and “pitifully” turning them into “badges of national honor” and “smug patriotic pride.”  But underneath all this harsh criticism could another fact be lurking?  Has the public finally grown tired of the “Fab Four” of Manhattan? 

Has Sex and the City lost its appeal?  Well, F.A.M.E NYC gives its answer.  Yes Sex and the City 2 was over the top, but that is part of its charm.  It has always been outrageous, irreverent, fashion forward, fun and handled myriad social topics in its own comedic way.  It has also carried, no pun intended, its share of questions of how real it was.  Questions such as how could Carrie afford her lifestyle on a columnist’s salary?   Most television series and movies straddle the realms of fantasy and reality; Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda did so looking fierce in Manolo Blahnik heels.

I must admit there are components of the sequel that stuck out like a bruised toe in a pair of strappy sandals; however each of these elements can be justified.  One issue was the lack of development of the characters.  The first Sex and the City film was released in 2008, four years after the HBO series ended.  The writers had more material to work with catching up die-hard fans and the rest of the audience with the goings on of Carrie and Big, Samantha and Smith, Charlotte and Harry and Miranda and Steve.  It has only been two years since we last seen the girls which could be the reason why the plot and characters lacked development. 

The original film gave a slight hint to the pending romance of Stanford Blatch, played by Willie Garson, and Anthony Marantino, played by Mario Cantone, with a kiss shared on New Year’s Eve.  In the sequel the two were married and then disappeared from the film altogether as the women head off to exotic lands for an all-girls getaway.  I personally would have like to have seen their love story develop a little further; however Stanford and Anthony, heck I will say it, men period were always side players.  As these women had determined a long time ago, they were soul mates and men, even the gay ones, could come and go.   

The writers could have allowed Samantha to conduct herself better in the Abu Dhabi considering she was technically on a business trip, but then that would have been out of character for Samantha.  We all have friends that do not budge an inch in their beliefs.  Samantha will be Samantha at 50, 60 and beyond. 

The real appeal of Sex and the City is the close bond that is shared between Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda and the unwavering support they provide each other as the years go on.   In the first movie Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda accompanied Carrie to Mexico for what would have been her honeymoon if Mr. Big had not jilted her.  This time the girls joined Samantha for her trip to the new Middle East and ultimately supported her through as she struggled to be herself in a foreign land.  Sex and the City has not lost its appeal with F.A.M.E NYC.  I do not mind hearing these women roar anytime, any place, any where. 

Photos: Warner Bros/Craig Blankenhorn