SEX AND THE CITY: SAMANTHA’S LOST HER GROOVE

SEX AND THE CITY: SAMANTHA’S LOST HER GROOVE

Like the millions of other 20-something females out there, I saw Sex and the City over the weekend. Turns out, the film exceeded expectations beating out Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for the top spot at the box office with $55.7 million. Here are some interesting stats as quoted by the LA Times: 85% of the audience was female and 80% of the audience was 25 years or older. My favorite quote about the craziness surrounding the film is pulled from a reviewer from the Herald Tribune who called it ‘feminine ground zero.’

In essence, the movie did very well and I would add that I definitely enjoyed it. That said, I’m just wondering here. . .

. . .what the hell happened to Samantha?

I may remember her appearance being a bit younger i.e. (above) but at least I remember her as a complex, intriguing character.

And frankly, after watching re-runs of Sex and the City on TBS in syndication in which most of Samantha’s parts are cut out to remain squeaky clean, I miss her.

Do not read on if you don’t want to incur some soft spoilers.

In the movie, Samantha’s character is brutalized into a bland, silly and frankly caricature-like vision of her former self. Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte approach Samantha in a mini-intervention to tell her that they are concerned over her weight gain. I propose an additional intervention, this time to Michael Patrick King (writer of the film), to ask him to re-think Samantha if in fact the sequel becomes a reality.

Samantha’s character is crucial to the plotline in a way not as obvious to the Carrie-obsessed. Within a cast of marriage-obsessed characters, Samantha keeps the story well-balanced, reminding viewers that not every woman dreams of one day walking down the aisle, baby in tow. Even for those women who do dream those things, it may not be the one priority. Old Samantha was sex-obsessed and powerful in her career. In this movie, she’s become de-sexualized. Even more shocking, her career revolves around a man (a plot which resolves itself by the end of the film).

So, here’s the deal:

Times Samantha Has Sex in Sex and the City:

Zero

Years Samantha Has Remained Faithful to Smith

Pounds Samantha Gains While Trying to Remain Faithful to Smith

Times Samantha’s New Dog Attempts to Hump Something

Recognize Our Girl?

Me neither.

To help Samantha get her groove back, I propose a showing of support:

Just so I’m not accused of being overly critical, I thoroughly enjoyed the film, particularly the moments between Carrie and Miranda. One-sided Samantha isn’t Samantha at all.

For an interesting review of Sex and the City that I don’t agree with but find hysterical none the less check out:

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2008/06/09/080609crci_cinema_lane?currentPage=1