Movie review: Sex And The City 2 ***

Sex And The City 2
***
Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall
Director: Michael Patrick King
Rated: R
Showing: Speciality Cinema
Runtime: 146 minutes
Drama/comedy/romance

Women worldwide are rejoicing at the return of New York’s fashionable fab four — but the long-awaited comeback falls flat.

The fun friendship still thrives but the racy days of serial dating and shopping sprees are long gone — our quartet are nudging middle age and struggling with motherhood and marriage.

Except Samantha, who is trying to fend off menopause (cue cheap gags about hot flushes). Remember when the only ‘m’ word in this franchise was Manolos?

Anyway, Carrie is living happily ever after with Big but misses nights out on the town. Charlotte fears hubby Harry is smitten with their big-breasted and permanently bra-less nanny, while Miranda is packing in her job due to stress.

As for Samantha, she is popping pills and coating herself in ointments in a bid to stop menopause.

They still indulge in the same old chat about men, goals and fashion, which is frequently dreadful this time around.

In a bid to give things a lift, the action switches location from New York to Abu Dhabi, where Samantha’s promiscuous behaviour raises more than a few unapproving eyebrows from the modest Muslim community.

But Carrie has other things to worry about — namely a blast from the past in the shape of Aidan, who she runs into while shopping at a local bazaar.

There are a few good one-liners but overall the movie is light on laughs.

Unless you find gay stereotypes hilarious, in which case the nuptials of Carrie’s best friend Stanford to camp wedding planner Anthony will have you in stitches. Liza Minelli even makes a guest appearance to sing for the grooms.

Fans will be pleased to see the gal pals reunited but you certainly won’t be Carrie-d away by the plot.