VALDOSTA —
“Sex and the City 2” (Comedy: 2 hours, 26 minutes); Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Chris Noth; Director: Michael Patrick King; Rated: R (Thematic elements, sexual innuendo, strong language, sexuality and nudity)
Movie Review: Carrie Bradshaw (Parker) is married to John “Mr. Big” Preston (Noth) but she fears her marriage has become mundane after two years. Marriage was exactly what she wanted, but it is not what she fully expected. Charlotte York (Davis) is overwhelmed with family and being a full-time mother. Her younger daughter is going through “terrible twos” stage. Meanwhile, Miranda Hobbes (Nixon) is dealing with a chauvinistic boss she deplores. And Samantha Jones (Cattrall) is face a mid-life crisis; she is menopausal and worried about remaining young. These ladies need a vacation.
Enter a wealthy businessman from Abu Dhabi. He offer Jones an all-expenses-paid stay at one of his luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi. This is what the ladies need — a vacation to an overseas paradise. But the women learn they are only temporarily escaping their New York City lives.
Based on characters from the book by Candace Bushnell, “Sex and the City” (also directed by King, 2008) was celebrated by fans who championed the television show that started in 1998. The problem with the first “City” is that it played as if it were still on television. Movies should always be a grander version of the teleplay in which it originated — not something one can see on television. “Sex and the City 2” remains trapped within this recurring faultiness.
Mostly, this imperfection occurs because the fab four never appear to mature as they age. They are older but no wiser, albeit they remain interesting.
The bigger problem with this comedy is an ineffective plot; one that stumbles around like over-intoxicated partygoers. “City 2” tries to make too many statements. It generously applies multiple topics, concerning women’s roles in relationships, gay rights, aging as a woman, and treatment of women in the Middle East. They are worthy topics, but none get preferential treatment for a focused plot.
Exactly one hour is the time allotment to set up this film’s plot. The other hour and a half presents the ladies committing outlandish behavior in a conservative part of the world and expecting no consequences. Even more, many of the jokes, especially the gay ones, are recycled to the point they become tedious and trite.
At nearly a runtime of two and half hours, “Sex in the City 2” is an hour longer than needed. Despite cameos by big-name actresses — Liza Minnelli’s bit is entertaining — the film remains mainly a gaudy fashion show.
Grade: C- (Impotency in the city)
“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (Adventure/Action: 1 hour, 56 minutes); Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina; Director: Mike Newell; Rated: PG-13 (Strong violence)
Movie Review: Prince Dastan (Gyllenhaal) is the adopted son of King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), the powerful ruler of Persia. After the king is killed, Dastan finds himself fingered as the suspect. He flees with Princess Tamina (Arterton) and a dagger that enables him to go back in time one minute. Dastan must keep the magical dagger safe from his uncle, Prince Nizam, who wants to manipulate the past.
Based on the video game, this adventure is a moderate popcorn flick filled with gratuitous special effects. Expect little and you receive much. Otherwise, expectations of higher standards will leave viewers disappointed. The action is fun, but the story is crappy and the characters all appear out of place.
Kingsley is a talented actor. He fails to do his best as an actor, but these two-bit roles as villains in fantasy, adventure and science-fiction films are becoming too routine. Also, no one expects Jake Gyllenhaal to be an action star, but he works here, contributing to the awkwardness of characters in their respective roles. Gyllenhaal, like others, is fun to watch but not believable as a compelling character in a substantive screenplay.
Two aspects do stand out as good entertainment. One, Molina is brilliant as Sheik Amar. He is funny and keeps the film moving on happily at dull moments. Another aspect of interest is two men throwing knives at each other in a showdown similar to a gunfight seen in Westerns of yesteryear.
“Prince of Persia” is fun but second rate when compared to most big productions originating during this time of the year. Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” 2005; “Mona Lisa Smile,” 2003) directs this noble effort with an unfortunate result.
Grade: C+ (Memorable for about a minute)
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Related Photos
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In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., from left, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon are shown in a scene from "Sex and the City 2."
Discussion
What a pity, new ‘Sex and the City’
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No need to ‘Switch’ theaters
“The Switch” (Comedy: 1 hour, 28 minutes); Starring: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Thomas Robinson and Patrick Wilson; Directors: Josh Gordon and Will Speck; Rated: PG-13 (Thematic elements including sexual material, profanity, nudity, brief violence, and drug-alcohol usage)
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Find some Other movie, Guys
“The Other Guys” (Comedy/Action: 1 hour, 47 minutes); Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne Johnson; Director: Adam McKay; Rated: PG-13 (Violence, profanity, sexual innuendo and mature themes)
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Like ‘Salt’ in a wound
“Salt” (Action/Thriller: 1 hour, 30 minutes); Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor; Director: Phillip Noyce; Rated: PG-13 (Intense sequences of violence and action including brief torture and profanity)
Movie Review: The Cold War officially ceased about 20 years ago. Too bad, “Salt” would have been a hit at its height. -
Movie reviews: "Knight and Day," "Grown Ups"
“Knight and Day” (Action: 1 hour, 50 minutes); Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano and Viola Davis; Director: James Mangold; Rated: PG-13 (Violence and profanity)
“Grown Ups” (Comedy: 1 hour, 42 minutes); Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider; Director: Dennis Dugan; Rated: PG-13 (Thematic elements, sexual innuendo and strong language)
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‘Toy Story 3’: Third time still charmed
“Toy Story 3” (Animation/Adventure/Family: 1 hour, 43 minutes); Starring Voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty and Don Rickles; Director: Lee Unkrich; Rated: G (Violence and some suggestive humor)
Movie Review: Woody (voice of Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Allen), and the rest have not been played with in sometime. Their owner, Andy (John Morris), is now a young man, heading to college. Andy’s mother donates his toys to Sunnyside Daycare Center. Woody, Buzz and the gang of toys just want some human to play with them, so the toys are thrilled to be at a daycare center where they will bring joy to several children. -
The 1980s are back
“The Karate Kid” (Drama/Martial Arts: 2 hours, 20 minutes); Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson; Director: Harald Zwart; Rated: PG (Violence, including bullying, and strong language)
Movie Review: Dre Parker (Smith) and his mother, Sherry (Henson), move to Beijing, China. Dre does not like China, but his mother’s job is an improvement for their lives. As Dre adapts to a new culture, he is bullied by martial arts students at his school. Enter Mr. Hun (Chan), the maintenance supervisor at Dre’s apartment complex. Dre becomes Mr. Hun’s padewan, training Dre kung-fu. -
What a pity, new ‘Sex and the City’
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Seek a different ‘Back-up Plan’
“The Back-up Plan” (Romantic Comedy: 1 hour, 38 minutes); Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin and Anthony Anderson; Director: Alan Poul; Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, mature themes, and sexual innuendo and some crude mature themes)
Movie Review: While this may be Jennifer Lopez at her best, the plot for this romantic comedy is one mess. Lopez stars as Zoe, a lady thinking she will never find “Mr. Right” with whom to have children and live happily ever after. As fate should prescribe, Zoe meets Stan (Australian actor O’Loughlin), a cheese farmer. -
Visit ‘Shutter Island’
“Shutter Island” (Thriller/Mystery: 2 hours, 18 minutes); Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Max von Sydow; Director: Martin Scorsese; Rated: R (Violence, profanity, disturbing imagery and nudity)
- A movie as endearing, and as flimsy, as a ‘Valentine’s Day’ card
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