A big fan of the Sex and the City series, being a rock 'em, sock 'em single girl myself, I was richly anticipating the DVD and was predisposed to love it.
And love it… I did not.
The entire film centers on the planning of Carrie's socialite wedding-of-the-decade to Big (Chris Noth), and all the mayhem that entails with the usual suspects: Samantha (Kim Catrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and my forever-least-favourite, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon).
I was disappointed with the film on three levels. First, I found the Cinderella tone nauseating and against the grain of what I thought was the message of the series -- female friendships surviving through thick and thin and independent, smart, sexy women finding their own way. The series was about Girl Power. The movie was about Carrie finally getting "The Man," being spared the shame of spinsterhood in her 40s. The switching of the glass slipper for the purple Manolo Blahnik shoe was so predictable and trite that it made me want to toss my quiche.
Second, the movie was an extended advertisement for haute couture. I don't exist in the world of haute couture, and few do. Fashion was important in the TV series, but the relationship between the four women was the main thing. The whole movie smacked of product placement, which carries little weight with me.
Finally, the Sex and the City movie failed to maintain the integrity of the main characters we have grown to know and love. Even so, I'd still recommend watching it with a great girlfriend and a bottle of Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava ($10 USD, $14.75 CDN).
Despite its flaws, I had such fun pausing this film between sips to chat with my girl, Asia, about many things. We discussed the difference in tone from the TV version to the big screen but we also spoke about ourselves, our lives, our past. And, yes, we talked about the fashions which were often ridiculous, and sometimes lovely. We had fun and that's what girl's night in should be.
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava is perhaps the best value sparkling wine available in the market today. It is made in the traditional Champagne method, ensuring blockbuster bubbles and is called Reserva because it's aged in bottle for up to two years. I tasted it recently against a bottle of champagne from France, and it stood up beautifully. It's a great date wine for anyone's pocket book.
From Penedès, Spain, located to the south west of Barcelona, in the wine growing region of Catalonia, the winery was founded in 1950. Over 90 per cent of Spain's sparkling wines (called Cava) are produced in Penedès and most Cava is made from a blend of three indigenous Spanish grapes called Maccabéo, Xarel-Lo and Parellada.
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva has racy acidity, making it a terrific food wine or superb all on its own. It is straw yellow in color and has a toasty, slightly nutty nose, thanks to the Champagne method (true Champagne should always have a toasty aroma). It is dry and rich with a medium body.
I recommend this wine for any occasion, and at 11.5 per cent alcohol, it helped me get through with Sex and the City with a smile on my face. But don't take my word for it. With so many accolades to choose from, Wine & Spirits magazine (June 2008) gave it 89 points and the critics pick. Share it.
Jill Vanderkooy, Sommelier and certifiable bon vivant, has worked in the wine industry for over 10 years, has been drinking wine for 25 years and is a true devotee of film across all genres. Her liver thanks you for reading.
Related reading: Former SATC writer and He's Just Not That Into You co-writer Liz Tuccillo discusses the single life and why the French don't get it. Click here.
