Sex and the City 2

The challenge with any successful movie is the inevitable demand for a sequel. How do you continue the story and what more could you tell about the characters? In the case of Sex and the City 2, there really wasn't much writer/director Michael Patrick King could tell after Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) finally married Mr. Big (a suave Chris Noth). Well, nothing that keeps the focus squared to the bread-and-butter of the popular HBO television series: the bonds of sisterhood through a maze of men, jobs, and designer shoes in the Big Apple. Instead, we're stuck with a big gay wedding with Liza Minneli acting as entertainment and as minister, the-ever promiscuous Samantha Jones (Kim Cattral) taking gal pals, Carrie, Charlotte (Kristen Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) off on an expense-paid trip to the United Arab Emirates, a chance run-in with Carrie's ex beau (John Corbett), and many, many unfunny jokes/stereotypes about the Middle East. When I was dragged kicking and screaming to see the original movie back in 2008, I was surprised about how, beyond the seemingly endless and unnecessary fashion shows the film threw out, it was still centered around the bond these women shared with each other. Plus it helped that the script was smart and knew how to keep the laughs coming. Sex and the City 2 does neither this time around.

** stars out of ****