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 After standing in a line that stretched around a city block, a few girlfriends and I were finally let into the theater to see Sex and the City on opening night in Manhattan. We feared death by trampling. Luckily, we made it in alive and settled into a row where just a few seats down from us a couple of girls actually popped open a bottle of champagne in celebration. Still, my expectations for the film were very low. And they were met. There's some fun to be had in this movie, from Carrie's couture wedding gown montage to Samantha using her naked (and beautiful) body as a serving platter for sushi for her super fine boyfriend. There were also disappointments, and one in particular really had me wanting to throw popcorn at the screen and let out a giant boo! Towards the end of the film, Samantha shows up at Carrie's apartment for a surprise visit. When the girls see her, they gawk at her in complete shock, and the camera instantly zooms in on Kim Cattrall's tiny little midriff. I was confused. I honestly didn't know what we were supposed to looking at. The tacky pants? Nope. Samantha had apparently gained a few pounds in the couple months since they last saw her. I must say that if my best friends ever looked at me with the disgust in their eyes that Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda had for their life-long pal, I could no longer in good conscious consider them friends. When Samantha defends her body by saying that she hadn't noticed she was gaining the weight, Carrie snaps back "How could you not notice?" God forbid a working 50-year-old woman not maintain perfectly flat six-pack abs. Apparently having an amazingly successful career in PR, a stunning apartment overlooking the ocean, and enough bank to jet off to expensive resorts in Mexico on a moments notice just isn't good enough. Not with a barely perceptible gut it isn't. SATC and the Samantha character, in particular, are famous for showing a revolutionary view of female sexuality and independence. Remember in the first episode when they vowed to start "having sex like men"? That was like a call to arms for a movement! It's sad to see that freewheeling Samantha and the gang are still oppressed by negative body image despite being depicted as trailblazers and superwomen who can have it all. We've always known the girls were body obsessed, but in the movie we're supposed to see them as women in their late-forties who've grown out of adolescent insecurities. They're supposed to be strong, confident, comfortable in their own skin and not wounded by gaining a few extra pounds. At least that's what I hoped. Besides, how are they supposed to maintain those fat-free figures anyway when they're always eating out? As I stumbled out of the dark theater, I couldn't help but wonder: if one of the actresses had actually gained weight would she have been recast in the movie? --Raegan Johnson 6 CommentsLeave a comment |
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I was confused. I honestly didn't know what we were supposed to looking at. The tacky pants?
Bless you, that was my exact reaction to that scene! It was a very awkward moment in the theater--I felt like most of the audience had the same reaction!
I too had the same reaction. I was very confused about what the problem was for a minute or so. However, I think that if any of us had a friend who was ALWAYS super fit and weight concious with six pack abs and then, a mere few months after we've last seen her she shows up with a little pooch for the first time since we had known her? We'd notice. Would we freak out? No. (At least I would hope not.) But I think anyone might be surprised when someone who has never gained an ounce suddenly puts on a few pounds. And then later, right after Carrie says "How could you NOT notice?" she does then say "Look, this isn't about the weight, you're gorgeous at any size. It's about the cause of the weight" So, it wasn't like they were disgusted with her, so much as they were a bit shocked and surprised about it. I think it was a slightly misguided attempt to "humanize" one of the girls by showing that she too gains weight when in an unhappy/broken relationship and can binge on cake and Ben &Jerry's like any other unhappy girl. It was a bit condescending, yes, but I don't think they were trying to demonize someone for gaining weight.
I thought she was pregnant. How could you not notice? I do not see where you mention above that Carrie said "you would look good at any size" or something to the effect. And how could you NOT notice. She had on low riders with a muffin top hanging over, which was the whole point of getting the audience to zero in.
Sensitive much?
My friend and I were also confused at first, but I agree with the anonymous poster above.
If one of my thinner friends suddenly gained a lot of weight since I had seen her last, I might ask her if everything is ok. Similarly, if one of my thicker friends suddenly lost a lot of weight, it could also signal a serious problem.
Overeating can be as serious of a problem as undereating.
I also wasn't sure what we were looking at during that shot. But I also *did* feel like they were horrified, not just "concerned about the cause". It was definitely a blemish on an otherwise great movie.
i was confused initially too. i liked the movie and though i was a bit perturbed by this part for the reasons you mentioned, i was pretty forgiving. it wasn't really about her gaining weight, it was about her spending too much time focusing on smith and not enough on herself. it was about a woman who had always been very self-centered, suddenly neglecting herself and not being happy with it.