30th
James Cooper Review: Sex and the City: The Movie
In a scene early in “Sex and the City,” Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), displaying the requisite twenty-first century post-feminist angst and self-doubt, sits at a restaurant and details a recent sexual adventure with her husband, Steve (David Eigenberg). For Miranda, engaging in sexual intercourse has become a bit of a cumbersome task, a chore more than a vice that she indulges in every six months, much to the chagrin of Steve. And, as she explains, her most recent sexual endeavor came to an abrupt end when she implored her husband to just “end it already.” The look on the faces of the friends surrounding her articulates their contrarian position and laughter ensues.
This particular scene, of course, is why audiences will flock to the cinematic adaptation of the popular television show and to the big screen gossip fest between Miranda and her friends. In fact, this scene is more about those friends and their unique friendship than the tawdry details of Miranda’s sex life (though, such humorous and sometimes uncomfortable details clearly defined the show and gave female viewers a rare opportunity to watch seemingly taboo sexual conversations discussed by middle-aged women). In many ways, the “Sex and the City” movie is an effective big screen adventure because it never veers too far from the successful formula that worked so well for the show.