Professoressa

While I can't say this was a good movie, I'll say it was an enjoyable one. I laughed, and I even cried during a surprisingly heartfelt scene between Charlotte and Miranda. But I'll qualify that by adding that I made a decision before watching it that I wasn't going to think about the film too much. As someone who regularly studies issues of feminism, gay rights, race & ethnicity, etc., movies are easily ruined for me, so I decided to put all that aside for just one night.

That being done, the movie was a spectacle, and it was fun. It oscillated between some more serious issues (e.g., Charlotte getting frustrated with her kids but feeling as though she's not allowed to complain about it because it'll make her a bad mother; or Carrie worrying that she and Big are becoming a boring married couple) and indulgent arrays of couture, luxury resorts, male eye candy, and snarky one-liners.

Many reviewers have noted that the film is offensive in its portrayal of the UAE. I would have to amend this statement by saying Samantha is offensive to the UAE. Miranda tries very hard to be the good American tourist and does obsessive research in advance, learns about the words and customs, and tries (about 20 times throughout the movie) to keep Samantha covered. Charlotte and Carrie try to follow her example. Samantha not so much. You don't get a lot of glimpses of the city beyond the hotel, and hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are often more tailored toward what tourists want to see than actual representations of the culture. Yes there were servants and belly dancers and lots of Orientalism, but from what I've seen of luxury resorts in the Middle East (and in other countries), that's how you lure wealthy American tourists. I did get uncomfortable, at times, with Samantha's behavior. I loved her in the first movie, when they finally developed her into a 3-dimensional character. Now we're back to the Samantha of the TV show, pre-final season.

I also have to say, I like that there is a film out there that takes women in their 40s and 50s and shows them still living life beyond the husband. By that I mean so many films featuring female characters end with the girl getting the guy. It's nice to see someone at least attempt to explore what happens beyond that. It may be someone obsessing over her marriage, or someone being afraid she's selling out if she takes a break from work, or someone still trying to live the fabulous single life when she's past menopause (which, aside from Blanche Devereaux, we haven't seen that much of), and this film may not be the most valiant effort, but at least it's something.

Final thoughts on this film: if you loved the show not for any in-depth feminist questions it raised, but to see girls having fun, wearing great clothes, and living exciting lives, you'll probably like the film a lot. If you loved the show at all, you'll probably at least enjoy the film.

If you can set aside the fact that a group of four women going on a camel ride through the desert need one set of outfits for the limo ride to the camels, one set for riding the camels (all couture), and one set for lunch under a tent during a camel-ride break, and just roll with it, then nothing should stop you from seeing this film.

As a local who lived here during Katrina, I find this show particularly moving and powerful.

There have been so many films, documentaries, novels, etc. about New Orleans, and most tend to sensationalize or to give non-locals what they want or expect to see. This is the most real portrait of the city I've seen, and it does justice to the spirit of the city. Living here is a strange experience because it feels like a small town: you run into the same people again and again; people are always eager to show newcomers where to eat or drink or listen to music; people are very friendly; people do tend to cringe when visitors never stray from Bourbon (even though Bourbon is fun); people do have a fierce loyalty to local bars, restaurants, etc. Simon really captures all of this in the show.

I never saw The Wire, but I'm impressed with the style of giving snapshots of the city or characters to build portraits of the people and the atmosphere - particularly the second line parade, John Goodman's character reading the Tulane renewal plan (brought back some painful memories for me personally), the Mardi Gras Indian practice, the reaction of people walking into a house or bar for the first time since the storm and surveying the damage.

My main concern for this show: I have no idea how non-New Orleanians will feel about it. So much of my enjoyment of the show is rooted in seeing people I know and finally seeing a director do justice to some of the most wonderful things about this city. But I'm not sure how I would feel if I weren't so emotionally invested in it.