Sex and the City 2

The appeal for me of the television series, Sex and the City, was not just the parade of handsome, often naked, men but also the glamorous appearance of the four women stars as well as my vicarious enjoyment of their New York bistro/restaurant and nightclubbing lifestyle. Whilst episodes of the television series were mostly frivolous in nature I admired the occasional foray into serious drama although no-one I know ever shared this view.

My recollection of the first Sex and the City movie is that it followed a similar path to the television series albeit that having a far greater length than a televison episode it tended at times to be meandering and dull. And now we have 'Sex and the City 2'.

It opens with a Gay wedding scene that is so over the top it might have come from the imagination of Busby Berkely. It includes a cameo from Liza Minnelli who is sadly far from her best. This entire segment struck me as being offered with a degree of embarrassment as though the creators are giving a nod to tolerance under sufferance. Having accommodated 'the gays' the film moves on with no further reference to it's lengthy opening segment.

Very little of what follows is set in New York and the absence of that exciting environment leaves a movie that is a pale and rather tired imitation of the popular television version. Carrie is wary of what is happening to her marriage to 'Big' who now has not only a christian name but a middle and family name as well. Charlotte is worried about her mothering skills, Samantha is stricken with menopause concerns and Miranda - as ever - is torn between her professional and family responsibilities.

Their solution is to holiday in Abu Dhabi, a location which provides an excuse for all manner of crass behaviour and some escapades last seen in the Abbott and Costello comedies of the 1940s. A brief appearance by (what is supposedly) the Australian Rugby Sevens team in their speedos was one of the few eye candy highlights. Otherwise, even the fashions didn't possess their famous zing.

Disappointing.