Hello World!!!
Me on Carrie's stoop (I know. I'm such a tourist...)
One of my goals on this blog is to ignite a serious and contemplative discussion about the deeper issues of faith and spirituality…today, I will not be achieving that goal…today I want to write about something fun…
If you have not heard before, guess what y’all? There will be a “Sex and the City 2!!!” Can you believe it? According to an article I read on msnbc.com, shooting for the movie will begin soon, and the movie will be released in 2010. Goody, goody !!! (clapping hands in exultation) My girls and I are big fans of the show and saw the movie on the first night it opened just over a year ago. In fact, I am such a huge fan that I have the “Sex and the City” board game, and I went on the “Sex and the City” tour in NYC in 2006.
What do I love about the show? I think I read or heard somewhere that the creators of the show see it as their personal love letter to single women everywhere. And if you have been single for a while you know that single women appreciate the love. It is a challenge to live the single life particularly when the world around you is coupled up and preaches the mantra that “two is better than one.” It’s even in the Bible.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (New International Version)
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Kinda slick how I managed to slip in some Bible verses in a post about “Sex and the City” huh? But watching the show makes me feel like singledom is celebrated and appreciated in spite of the inevitable misadventures, mishaps and minefields. Plus, the show is hilarious. Remember all of the crazy guys those girls dated. Now, I know that some criticize the show because the women jump in and out of beds throughout the city ergo the title “Sex and the City” but the show still managed to intelligently illuminate the issues that single people face.
Me and the tour guide
With all of that said, I watched the movie in its entirety again on Saturday. And as I watched the movie again (I’ve probably seen it 3 or 4 times now), I was reminded of the one criticism of the movie that all of my girls agreed on – Jennifer Hudson’s character “Louise.” I heard that in an effort to appeal to the black fan base of the show, the movie writers decided to inject a black character. But my friends thought that with her use of Ebonics and her penchant for renting not buying designer purses, Louise was more of an insult instead of a compliment to black fans. As I watched the movie again, I didn’t necessarily think her character was offensive, but her character did seem to bit contrived. For those of you who saw the movie, what do you think?
Apparently, there was open casting call for extras for the movie yesterday in the NYC. I wonder if any black actors and actresses will be chosen. I also wonder if any black characters will be included in the sequel of the “Sex and the City” movie. If so, I hope the writers manage to make the character or characters seem more natural like Blair Underwood’s character in the show. Remember his relationship with Miranda? In a word, “steamy.” (I actually met Blair in 1994 in Boston. Fine as wine for real…) It is plausible that one of the characters could fall for someone as fine as Blair…
Truth be told, I don’t necessarily mind that that there are no black characters front and center in the show. I’m fairly political and all, but I don’t think Rev. Al should be called just because of this fact. I enjoy the show and think it’s well written. However, if black characters will be front and center in this movie, I think these characters should be plausible. So in case the writers for the movie happen to come across this blog, what are your suggestions for a new black character?
I think her name should be “Jackie.” Jackie is a powerful and sassy name, and we all know many black women who are powerful and sassy. Since Samantha is the only one of the girls who ends up not being in a stable relationship at the end of the first movie, I think Jackie should be a friend of hers. I think Samantha and Jackie should become friends as the rest of the girls won’t have as much time to hang. She should be a PR guru as Samantha is and a part of her network. I think Jackie, who is in political PR, and Samantha should work as a team to improve the image of a New York politician who is found to be soliciting prostitutes behind his wife’s back. Sound familiar? With Jackie’s knowledge of politics and Samantha’s expertise with the sexual appetites of men, the team “save the day.” Ha, ha! And maybe Samantha ends up falling for the politician. (My imagination is working overtime this morning…)
So what do you hope will happen in the sequel? Does a sequel even need to be made? Do you think the movie should have black characters?
Yes, I saved the booklet from the tour...
Any thoughts?
P.S. Jennifer Hudson’s character may have not been the best in the movie, but she blessed that soundtrack. I hope they include her voice in the new soundtrack.
Funny. I saw the movie on Saturday too. For the first time. I’m not a big “Sex and the City” fan, in fact, rarely ever watching the TV show. A lot to like but it didn’t grab me. Maybe because I’m not single.
Louise didn’t offend me by renting purses. I’ve never done it but I know it’s become a common practice for some. No big deal. But yes, she clearly was an “add-on” to appeal to Black movie goers. The biggest flaw for me? The song Jennifer sung that was played over the final scenes of the movie. Sounded like some throwback to 1970’s disco era, didn’t fit with the mood of the film, and was edited poorly, so loud that I had to struggle to hear the final dialogue. I don’t think SINC needs a Black character. I’d rather see a “Black” version of SINC, or better yet, a multi-cultural version. That would work for me.
@Patricia,
Yeah, I enjoyed the movie, but I loved the show. I think it makes a difference if you actually followed the show. Have you watched the show before?
As far as Louise is concerned, some of my friend also thought she was a “mammy” type of character coming in to fix Carrie…I didn’t take it that far, but I have heard that.
I would like a similar black program as well..As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t mind writing it…dreams oh dreams… 🙂
Great post J! I didn’t see the first SITC movie, but I sure wanted to just to see how Carrie’s AMAZING wedding dress moved when she walked. I was an avid fan of the show for a couple of years, but hated the finale with them dancing with drag queens on the roof-seemed unnecessarily over-the-top. I did think the show was smart and witty in a Frazier kind of way, which the writer in me loved. And in terms of black characters, I’m with you. I only want to see them if they don’t seem forced or stereotypical. But I don’t have high hopes for much that hollywod produces these days. We’ll see…
@Enjoycelinglife, thanks! Yeah, Carrie’s wedding dress was the fire! And you’re right, Hollywood’s portrayal of black people has not been the best..
I really think that SITC movie was a reflection of real life. How many people mix with other races after work hours? I know some but not many. I would like for the next movie to have a black character with more depth. As far Hudson’s character being stereotypical well she may have been. By the way black women do not hold the market on renting bags. There are far more other races renting them!! At least she was renting a real one and not rocking a knock off! Swap meet anyone??
There’s already been a black SITC. It was called “Girlfriends.”
@Stephanie B, in Atlanta, people aren’t really hanging together after hours, but I think in other places, the opposite is true..
@Chicki, someone else pointed that out to me as well, ha, ha!
wow thanks to share,i always came to visit ur blog 🙂