June 1, 2010
RUTHERFORD AT THE MOVIES: 'Sex and the City 2'
One liners, Fashions, Celebration of Womanhood, and What Equals Cheating?
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Of all the unexpected and nontraditional relationship pondering thoughts you discover in “Sex in the City 2,” a romantic kiss in a far away land re-opens the cheating debate. When in a committed (marital) relationship does “cheating” occur? Omitting the obvious i.e. a full blown sexual encounter lullaby, the debate on the table remains --- Would a romantic kiss then walking away violate marital vows? Was it cheating or nearly succumbing to temptation?
Ironically, this rubric surfaces in the second “Sex in the City” chic flick derived from the ultra successful HBO series about four then single girlfriends and their adventures in New York City. Their perspectives on relationships have been anything but traditional, yet the “kiss” cheating debate flows well with the gals visiting a modern Middle Eastern country, where morals police still patrol the streets.
The cheating heart/mind topic has no full resolution and , essentially, the determination depends on the rules of the relationship and (obviously) the couple themselves. For instance, often, men cannot tolerate their woman (or vice versa) having a best opposite sex friend. Others may feel offended by their mate’s “long stare” at an attractive passerby.
Here’s a good reason ladies to drag your significant other/boyfriend/husband to “Sex…” It can motivate far reaching communication and discussions. The cheating issue is just one aspect, there’s “space,” “job v relationship,” children, and the list continues infinitely.
Having yet to mention a star, director or scene, I’ve demonstrated one success of the sequel --- it challenges marital boundaries , suggesting that (oh my!) each couple may set their own rules, that have the potential for circumstantial variance. Take long distance relationships, would the commitment and cheating criteria be loosened? Does the amount of commitment ( seriously dating, engaged, married) matter? I once shrugged off as ‘you’re forgiven, no biggie,’ a confession that occurred during the woman’s months away from me. Why? We were not engaged/married, and, while committed to ‘seriously date,’ the interim time frame injected room for flexibility. Surprise, no deal breaker, but WHAT IF the same scenario had occurred and we were either engaged or married?
Enough of the social interrelationship debate, what about the flick?
When the sequel opens, two years have passed. Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha have settled into their still very NYC lives. The script and acting sparkle during their ‘gay’ wedding attendance (dancing and singing cameo by Lisa Minnelli ) and the pre-nuptial period provides ideal excuses for the shop-a-holic ladies to practice their fetish and sob on each other’s shoulders.
Each have aged further into forty something juggling the indecisiveness of their individual life choices. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) has settled into the marriage with Mr. Big, except she’s now afraid of becoming just another married couple triggered by his leaning to “staying in” not “going out.” Add Charlotte (Kristin Davis ), a mom with terrible two’s who confides her fears about their bouncing braless Irish nanny (Alice Eve) as the kids turn the kitchen table and her designer outfit into a mess. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon ) has hubby, kids and career, but the corporate boys have pegged her their token executive of the female gender. As for Samantha (Kim Cattrall ), she’s a cougar prowling and snarling in a Botox, hormone, and herbal obsessed overly nip and tucked body.
The Fab Four have enough issues before Abu Dhabi luxury lands on their plates. its like the glam-dram girls all have lingering thoughts on singledom, marriage and aging gracefully. No thanks to the Mid .East (yawn) portion.
These ego burdened ladies respond opulently to the new venue, especially the young butlers. Tourism and fashion show eventually (double yawn) rescues fish out of water cultures clashing. More encounters with ‘morals police’ would have pumped a stiletto feeling into their lengthy, sagging rides on red carpets (disguised as four white Maybach 62 S).
For all the nagging about double standards and Mars/Venus communication styles, “Sex City II” adopts a shallow, read between the lines , gals worrying about their man (or men) diversion. The ‘having it all’ quest tweak session parades like a drab pair of smelly sweats in the land of having too much.
Changing clothing and product placement close-ups aside, brazen one-liners have no shortage, the percentage siphoned by too long dwelling in the hotel palace. Furthermore, once on property, the sheiks forget to schedule a business meeting to bring the whole detour into perspective.
For better or worse, -dramadies characterization continuity often takes a desert hot flash vacation. Could it be perils of insecurity from partying 6,700 miles from New York City? Or, is that the ‘get it chic’ moment? Confident barbs and vicious words are a façade for …. We can’t deal with growing older? Can’t the clock go backwards, please?
FAV SCENE: Miley (Cyrus) cameo; two large cake colored hands on Charlotte’s apparently permanently stained kitchen best
FAV LINE: Carrie: “(sigh) then they will each take a (no surprise) pair of shoes.” Runner Up: “I knew I should have packed a burqa..”
FAV OUTFIT: Carrie (Sarah Jessica)’s opening golden jewel pumps frozen as she exits a vehicle AND Mranda’s (Cynthia Nixon) definitely not legally conservative endlessly plunging ‘how do they stay covered’ no one noticed premier dress.
BEST EXCUSE TO CHANGE: Camel riding
FAV SCENE STEALER: Any that has the Breast in show Irish nanny; she received enthusiastic pointed toes from the mostly female audience, too.
WORST MALE BIMBO IMITATION: Samantha (Kim Cantrell ) in high rise NYC office rambling on phone
Guess this “Sex” does have something for the guys! No dragging necessary to watch these lusty fully clothed sexy ladies.
1/2 out of
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RUTHERFORD AT THE MOVIES: 'Sex and the City 2'
One liners, Fashions, Celebration of Womanhood, and What Equals Cheating?
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Of all the unexpected and nontraditional relationship pondering thoughts you discover in “Sex in the City 2,” a romantic kiss in a far away land re-opens the cheating debate. When in a committed (marital) relationship does “cheating” occur? Omitting the obvious i.e. a full blown sexual encounter lullaby, the debate on the table remains --- Would a romantic kiss then walking away violate marital vows? Was it cheating or nearly succumbing to temptation?
Ironically, this rubric surfaces in the second “Sex in the City” chic flick derived from the ultra successful HBO series about four then single girlfriends and their adventures in New York City. Their perspectives on relationships have been anything but traditional, yet the “kiss” cheating debate flows well with the gals visiting a modern Middle Eastern country, where morals police still patrol the streets.
The cheating heart/mind topic has no full resolution and , essentially, the determination depends on the rules of the relationship and (obviously) the couple themselves. For instance, often, men cannot tolerate their woman (or vice versa) having a best opposite sex friend. Others may feel offended by their mate’s “long stare” at an attractive passerby.
Here’s a good reason ladies to drag your significant other/boyfriend/husband to “Sex…” It can motivate far reaching communication and discussions. The cheating issue is just one aspect, there’s “space,” “job v relationship,” children, and the list continues infinitely.
Having yet to mention a star, director or scene, I’ve demonstrated one success of the sequel --- it challenges marital boundaries , suggesting that (oh my!) each couple may set their own rules, that have the potential for circumstantial variance. Take long distance relationships, would the commitment and cheating criteria be loosened? Does the amount of commitment ( seriously dating, engaged, married) matter? I once shrugged off as ‘you’re forgiven, no biggie,’ a confession that occurred during the woman’s months away from me. Why? We were not engaged/married, and, while committed to ‘seriously date,’ the interim time frame injected room for flexibility. Surprise, no deal breaker, but WHAT IF the same scenario had occurred and we were either engaged or married?
Enough of the social interrelationship debate, what about the flick?
When the sequel opens, two years have passed. Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha have settled into their still very NYC lives. The script and acting sparkle during their ‘gay’ wedding attendance (dancing and singing cameo by Lisa Minnelli ) and the pre-nuptial period provides ideal excuses for the shop-a-holic ladies to practice their fetish and sob on each other’s shoulders.
Each have aged further into forty something juggling the indecisiveness of their individual life choices. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) has settled into the marriage with Mr. Big, except she’s now afraid of becoming just another married couple triggered by his leaning to “staying in” not “going out.” Add Charlotte (Kristin Davis ), a mom with terrible two’s who confides her fears about their bouncing braless Irish nanny (Alice Eve) as the kids turn the kitchen table and her designer outfit into a mess. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon ) has hubby, kids and career, but the corporate boys have pegged her their token executive of the female gender. As for Samantha (Kim Cattrall ), she’s a cougar prowling and snarling in a Botox, hormone, and herbal obsessed overly nip and tucked body.
The Fab Four have enough issues before Abu Dhabi luxury lands on their plates. its like the glam-dram girls all have lingering thoughts on singledom, marriage and aging gracefully. No thanks to the Mid .East (yawn) portion.
These ego burdened ladies respond opulently to the new venue, especially the young butlers. Tourism and fashion show eventually (double yawn) rescues fish out of water cultures clashing. More encounters with ‘morals police’ would have pumped a stiletto feeling into their lengthy, sagging rides on red carpets (disguised as four white Maybach 62 S).
For all the nagging about double standards and Mars/Venus communication styles, “Sex City II” adopts a shallow, read between the lines , gals worrying about their man (or men) diversion. The ‘having it all’ quest tweak session parades like a drab pair of smelly sweats in the land of having too much.
Changing clothing and product placement close-ups aside, brazen one-liners have no shortage, the percentage siphoned by too long dwelling in the hotel palace. Furthermore, once on property, the sheiks forget to schedule a business meeting to bring the whole detour into perspective.
For better or worse, -dramadies characterization continuity often takes a desert hot flash vacation. Could it be perils of insecurity from partying 6,700 miles from New York City? Or, is that the ‘get it chic’ moment? Confident barbs and vicious words are a façade for …. We can’t deal with growing older? Can’t the clock go backwards, please?
FAV SCENE: Miley (Cyrus) cameo; two large cake colored hands on Charlotte’s apparently permanently stained kitchen best
FAV LINE: Carrie: “(sigh) then they will each take a (no surprise) pair of shoes.” Runner Up: “I knew I should have packed a burqa..”
FAV OUTFIT: Carrie (Sarah Jessica)’s opening golden jewel pumps frozen as she exits a vehicle AND Mranda’s (Cynthia Nixon) definitely not legally conservative endlessly plunging ‘how do they stay covered’ no one noticed premier dress.
BEST EXCUSE TO CHANGE: Camel riding
FAV SCENE STEALER: Any that has the Breast in show Irish nanny; she received enthusiastic pointed toes from the mostly female audience, too.
WORST MALE BIMBO IMITATION: Samantha (Kim Cantrell ) in high rise NYC office rambling on phone
Guess this “Sex” does have something for the guys! No dragging necessary to watch these lusty fully clothed sexy ladies.
1/2 out of
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
