Sex and the City 2 (R, 2010)

common sense media says

Shopping, sex, and stereotypes merge in trite sequel.


parents & educators say
  • 100% say sexual content is an issue
  • 67% say they noticed product placement

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this comedy, an extension of the HBO series beloved by adults (and teens thanks to DVDs and edited reruns in syndication), is a sequel to the first Sex and the City movie and features all the usual elements that made the show so famous: naughty jokes, serious label-dropping, and sex scenes (though slightly muted this time around). While essentially still a warm story about female friendship, this film layers on the familiar raunchiness, with Samantha driving the sexual humor through quips ("Lawrence of my labia!"), and two vigorous sex scenes that show thrusting male bottoms. Several close-ups of barely clothed body parts also make the cut; there's the braless nanny whose white shirt is accidently sprayed while giving kids a bath, providing a slow-motion wet T-shirt situation with fully revealed nipples; a poolside male rugby team gets some big-screen attention on their bathing suits; and in one scene, Samantha's date stands up with a full erection, much to the dismay of the traditionally clad Arab bystanders. Much is made of the Arab world's treatment of women and sexuality, and it's not handled very sensitively. There’s also some swearing ("f--k," "ass," etc.), social drinking that looks very glamorous, and heavy angsting about the three m’s: marriage, motherhood, and menopause.

Positive messages: There are empowering messages in the film, for sure, but they are buried by the narcissism and consumerism that runs rampant through the film. Also, there’s an insensitivity to Arabic culture. Plus, and this is a big plotline, there are expectations that marriage ought to be glamorous all the time. It’s later debunked, but only just.
Positive role models: For so long, Carrie and her friends have pushed boundaries in a good way, and portrayed interesting, complicated women. But they just seem so superficial here. And the men are barely seen or heard. Nevertheless, their friendship is still admirably open and giving and supportive -- always great to see.
Violence: Men scream and menace four women in a market.
Sex: Lots of cleavage. A woman cops a feel of her date’s genitals (above his clothes) at a restaurant in Abu Dhabi, scandalizing other diners. A woman gets accidentally splashed, and her T-shirt reveals her nipples. A slow-motion scene of a braless woman jumping up and down with male ogling. A woman is shown having sex a couple times; her partners are naked, their backsides visible and thrusting. A married man kisses a married woman (and they’re not married to each other). Lots of double entendres.
Language: A few occasions of “damn,” “hell,” and “f--k.” Plus "God" used as an exclamation.
Consumerism: Persistent and over-the-top; labels named-dropped and flashed everywhere: Maybach, New Yorker, Vogue, Bulgari, Rolex, Valentino, Dior -- ad infinitum. Women constantly ooh and ahh over products.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Beer, champagne (lots of it!), and hard liquor imbibed at social occasions; some characters get drunk. Two characters smoke through a hookah. Two humorous mentions of drugs: cocaine and peyote.

More on Sex and the City 2

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the lifestyles of the famous and fabulous foursome: How do they afford all those clothes and fancy furniture? If you had as much money as they do, how would you spend your money? Can you imagine spending $22,000 per night on a hotel? What do you think Carrie's butler thinks about the foursomes' spending habits? What message was the movie trying to send by telling the butler's story?

  • What are Carrie’s feelings about marriage? Do they seem realistic? Do you have empathy for Carrie's situation? Why or why not?
  • How does the film handle the cultural differences between America and the Arab world? Did you notice any stereotyping? What are your feelings about the movie's approach?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) head to Abu Dhabi, where a sheik who might very well hire Samantha to launch his hotel welcomes them to his decadent -- butlers and chauffeured Maybachs for everyone -- property. They need the break, too: sweet Charlotte’s at wit’s end raising two daughters, one of whom won’t stop crying, ever; Miranda’s boss is a chauvinist of the 1950s order; Samantha’s battling menopause with hormones and a Suzanne Somers book; and Carrie’s fighting to maintain the “sparkle” in hers and Big’s (Chris Noth) marriage. They’re ready for Abu Dhabi, but is Abu Dhabi ready for them? And what happens when Carrie unexpectedly runs into Aiden (John Corbett)?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

HBO’s Sex and the City shifted mountains of paradigms, so it’s no wonder it’s considered groundbreaking. That’s why it’s such a disappointment to say that SEX AND THE CITY 2 is decidedly not. Though the foursome’s enduring friendship remains -- a mindful conversation between Miranda and Charlotte about motherhood recalls the show’s best sisterhood moments -- there’s not much here that’s particularly radical. In fact, it feels like the women -- Carrie especially -- have all taken a step back. Are we to sympathize with a Carrie who complains about a husband who’d rather cuddle and watch old movies than work the scene at an overheated club? (This, by the way, is the man she yearned to see settle down.)

Are we to believe that Samantha would now envy a twentysomething nanny? That they’d pick a Helen Reddy song to sing karaoke at an Abu Dhabi bar? That Carrie, a writer, doesn’t know what a souk is? The film is all sorts of tin-eared, from its relentless consumerism (after a quick nod to the recession); annoying quips (“Lawrence of the labia”); and appalling arrogance about other cultures, to its insistence that we care about women who once seemed wise and bold but who now, alas, seem sad.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Michael Patrick King
Cast: Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 146 minutes
Theatrical release: May 27, 2010
DVD release: October 26, 2010
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: some strong sexual content and language
Watch our review

This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 
 

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What parents & educators say

16
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 100% say sexual content is an issue
  • 67% say they noticed product placement
  • 67% say language is an issue
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
  • 33% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members


kid, 12 years old
 
WELL, IT DOESNT MEAN ITS A BAD FILM
not for kids! not men! just women over 18.


teen, 14 years old
 
WELL, IT DOESNT MEAN ITS A BAD FILM
not for kids! not men! just women over 18.


kid, 11 years old
 
WELL, IT DOESNT MEAN ITS A BAD FILM
not for kids! not men! just women over 18.

patricia desanctis
parent of 12 and 16 year old
 
not good for anyone


kid, 12 years old
 
iffy for 10-14


teen, 14 years old
 
iffy for 10-14


kid, 11 years old
 
iffy for 10-14

a-a-r-
teen, 18 years old
 
No thanks excellent

MatthewAbate
teen, 14 years old
 
Rather go to Hell
Makes me want to drop into Hell.

zanderman1997
teen, 14 years old
 
stay away
why do people again and again pay money for this JUNK !!!!!!!!

jrn
adult
 
For adults only!
Sex and The City followers might enjoy it, but it is not appropriate for teens.

imprettyerthenu
kid, 9 years old
 
for 16 and up
love it sex is life thats how we were all made its not gross but it might be kinda bad

ssteyer
adult
 
This movie ruined the show for me. The acting was pretty mediocre and the plot was dumb. Some of the lines were really cheesy but I also found it to be very stereotypical of Arab cultures. The only aspect of the movie I enjoyed was the clothes--amazing costume designing.

mackey
teen, 14 years old
 
gross
wow this is one of the stupid to much sexual active it so stinking gross

coolj123
kid, 9 years old
 
hate the movie to girly and sexy.

slasher23
teen, 16 years old
 
very sexual

queenofrandom01
teen, 15 years old
 
gross
this is gross not for kids at ALL

 
Terrible
This might be the most offensive film ever made. Do not take ANYONE to see this. -MAXTHEKINGOFALLWILDTHINGS

Nghilang
parent of 3 year old
 
for me
love

jboddie
parent of 8 year old
 
I enjoyed the movie as a long time follower of the show, but it is certainly NOT appropriate for those under 17. Could be offensive to other cultures. There is only one noticeable positive message which has to do with sexism in the work place and the character taking a stand against it.

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age