Sex and the City (Movie 2008): Life After Love

Sex and the City movie with Sarah Jessica Parker. Michael Patrick King, the director of the 2008 big-screen sequel to the hit TV series Sex and the City (1998–2004), was an executive producer, director, and writer on the show.

Sex and the City (movie 2008) review: Starring Sarah Jessica Parker and friends, Michael Patrick King’s big-screen transfer of the landmark TV series is a(n imperfect) success

When it was announced that Sex and the City would be made into a feature-length film, fans of the HBO series were either overcome with excitement or terrified of being disappointed. Luckily, the Sex and the City movie transfer – by series executive producer (and sometime writer/director) Michael Patrick King – is for the most part the success longtime fans were hoping for.

The film picks up four years from where the series left off. Each of the girls, now in her 40s, has found love (though not necessarily bliss).

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) has published three books and is in a stable relationship with longtime on-again off-again boyfriend Mr. Big (Chris Noth).

Samantha (Kim Cattrall) has relocated to Los Angeles, where she manages the career of superstar boyfriend Smith (Jason Lewis).

Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is raising adopted daughter Lily with her loving husband Harry (Evan Handler), but has yet to realize her dream of having a biological child.

Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is living a less-than-ideal “family life” with Steve (David Eigenberg) in seemingly far-away Brooklyn.

Life after love

Formerly a columnist specializing in sex and the search for love, Carrie focuses her research on what happens after one does find love. Her upcoming move-in with Big prompts the couple to decide to get married.

But there are a couple of issues: Carrie and Big’s plan for a simple, labelless wedding spirals out of control into a 200-guest affair that lands in the gossip columns. And although the girls could not be happier for their friend, Miranda accidentally lets her relationship misfortunes spoil what should have been Carrie’s happy ending.

The series came to a close with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda all finding love, but the Sex and the City movie shows that the girls have learned that there is more to their lives than the men in them.

Through a few explicit scenes, the focus is shifted from love-making to love-saving: A grand theme of forgiveness reigns, as the girls attempt to save their love for each other and for their partners.

Sex and the City movie Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes.

What’s with the somberness?

Following a TV series as successful as Sex and the City would be a difficult task for anyone. So it should come as no surprise that even though Michael Patrick King has created a narrative in keeping with the original’s theme, the movie’s rhythm falls short.

There are times when Sex and the City The Movie feels rushed, as too much information and too many events are crushed into a short period of time.

Additionally, the tone often feels flat, which left this viewer waiting for the jokes for which the series was known.

But most surprising of all is the overwhelming sadness felt by the girls – and consequently by myself. While the four main characters faced their fair share of obstacles over the course of the series, none felt as somber and depressing as those in the film.

Fashion show

On the positive side, King does bring back minor characters, all of whom have a major impact, in addition to introducing a new cast member in the form of Carrie’s assistant Louise (Jennifer Hudson).

Besides, costume designer Patricia Field’s work is a mega-hit in and of itself. Her choices are works of art, capturing this viewer’s eye in every corner of the screen.

A special pair of Dior gladiator sandals and a black-studded belt by an unidentified designer make multiple appearances as part of Carrie’s wardrobe, but Field keeps the girls’ outfits both exciting and true to their characters.

Down memory lane

References to Sex and the City The Series are plentiful and would be understood solely by those who know it well.

For instance, as a special treat for longtime fans, the tutu seen in the series’ opening credits makes an appearance as part of a silly fashion show between the girls, while Samantha gives Smith a speech similar to that which she gave to a former lover, Richard. And in the end, Carrie and Big find themselves in the same position as their first date.

In all, despite its faults Sex and the City is a solid small-screen-to-big-screen transfer. This viewer, for one, was drawn back into that endearing world, while becoming reacquainted with characters that are all but impossible to forget.

Sex and the City (movie 2008) cast & crew

Direction & Screenplay: Michael Patrick King.

Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Chris Noth, Candice Bergen, Jennifer Hudson, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Jason Lewis, Mario Cantone, Lynn Cohen, Joanna Gleason.

Cinematography: John Thomas.

Film Editing: Michael Berenbaum.

Music: Aaron Zigman.

Production Design: Jeremy Conway.

Producers: Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael Patrick King, Darren Star, and John Melfi.

Production Companies: New Line Cinema | Home Box Office (HBO).

Distributor: New Line Cinema.

Running Time: 145 min.

Country: United States.

“Sex and the City (Movie 2008): Life After Love” review text © Lauren Creamer; excerpt, image captions, bullet point introduction, and notes © Alt Film Guide.

“Sex and the City (Movie 2008): Life After Love” notes

Sex and the City failed to make a splash during awards season, apart from a couple of People’s Choice Award nominations and a Costume Designers Guild Award nod for Patricia Field (who also worked on the series) in the Contemporary Film category.

Sex and the City movie credits via the American Film Institute (AFI) Catalog website.

Cynthia Nixon and Sara Jessica Parker Sex and the City movie images: New Line Cinema | HBO Films.

“Sex and the City (Movie 2008): Life After Love” last updated in April 2023.