All four women have settled into their lives. In New York, Carrie and Big (Parker and Noth) decide to move in together and get married, but the big wedding freaks Big out. Miranda and Steve (Nixon and Eigenberg) are thrown into crisis by an indiscretion. Charlotte and Harry (Davis and Handler) have a happy life that's about to get happier. And in Malibu, Samantha and Smith (Cattrall and Lewis) love the beach life, but Samantha misses her friends and feels like she's losing herself in Smith's career. Fortunately they have each other to lean on.

As with the series, the script isn't exactly a marvel of subtlety, as it tries to have its cake and eat it too: these women are intelligent, funny, sexy and independent, yet they still need a man to complete them. They're also over-dressed and over-accessorised in their fantasy version of New York in which cabs appear at the snap of a finger, walk-in closets occupy parallel dimensions, and hopping on a jet is easier than walking two blocks in a pair of Manolos.

But then, this is what everyone loved about the series. And it is great fun revisiting these characters on the big screen, where they manage to appear bigger than life. Despite the film's astonishing length, there's not a dull moment. Sure, there are too many dress-up montages, and the various conflicts are about as inventive and unpredictable as a sitcom, but there are enough zingy one-liners and emotional high points to keep us entertained.

It also helps that the actors slide so effortlessly back into their roles and manage to add dramatic resonance to the characters. This is a film that seems to be about romantic relationships but is actually about loyal friendships, and as such it's often surprisingly moving. There are only a couple of mild surprises in the various plot resolutions, but we don't really mind this much sweet corniness when we're with our friends.

themes, language, sexuality

27.May.08