This review of the upcoming Sex and the City movie makes me laugh. Sure, it was written by a guy who was writing for a well-known male-oriented film geek website (hardly the best audience for the show or the movie), but still...my God, this movie looked terrible from the trailer, and from the sound of it, my early impression wasn't wrong. This is one weekend wherein I'm ecstatic to not have a girlfriend so that I won't get dragged to a theater to see this insipid garbage. The last time I had a non-long distance girlfriend (oh, around 1999), I got dragged to crappy movies all the time...but none of them even began to measure up to the misery that the Sex and the City movie looks certain to provide (to be fair, I did also drag that girlfriend to some movies she dreaded, as well...The Waterboy, anyone?).
But really, this review also highlights some pretty solid reasons why the show and subsequent movie are unpleasant, beyond just the usual "fashion is boring" and "I'd rather see four women getting naked and kissing than talking about relationships" reasons. The reviewer talks about how the four main characters aren't really just empowered women who are too "take charge" and "in control" for most men to handle, as the show would have you believe, but rather, that they're four self-obsessed, annoying, insanely picky divas who actually give women a bad reputation. Now, I understand that guys are, in their own ways, no better, as they can often be thoughtless, brainless, selfish assholes...but I wouldn't want to watch a movie or TV show about guys like that, either (ie: Entourage). So my problem with the show (and movie) doesn't solely stem from an aversion to watching women try on clothes and reassure each other that they still look fabulous, but more from the fact that they just seem like horrible people.
Truth be told, though: I've never actually seen an episode of the show. Does that negate my argument? I don't think so...I haven't been blind to the advertisements and articles over the years, nor have I been deaf to my friends' and relatives' opinions. Could I be wrong in my belief? Sure, and maybe one day, I'll actually put my well-founded belief to the test and watch an episode or two...and after that, I'll go ice skating in Hell. Someone also tried to make the comparison between Seinfeld and Sex and the City, saying that Seinfeld was also about self-obsessed, terrible people. That's kind of ridiculous, as Seinfeld was a comedy wherein the characters basically knew how awful they were and refracted our common societal experiences through humor...Sex and the City is a drama/comedy that actually thinks its characters are worth admiring (again, from what I've gleaned).
But obviously, when the show was first airing, I wasn't really aware of its characters' inherent unpleasant attributes, so it's tough to say where my initial disdain originated. To be fair, I suppose I was first repelled by the basic concept of a show about four women talking about clothes, cosmos and love...boring (and again, it's not because they were women, as I would be equally turned off by a show about guys hanging out and talking about sports and banging women [ie: Arliss]). Additionally, I remember staying with my mom and stepdad over the summer during high school and college, and they would watch Sex and the City...they always wanted me to watch with them, not because they thought I should see it, but because it was more of a "family togetherness" thing. However, I would refuse every time, mainly because I had absolutely no desire to watch anything risque with my parents (the last time I made that mistake was when I went to see The People vs. Larry Flynt with my dad)...that, plus it sounded boring. From there, it just sort of ballooned into a complete stubborn aversion...not that I regret my decision. And then when Krystal started to use an example of Carrie and Mr. Big during the end of our relationship, it basically forever solidified my choice.
Anyway...I spoke to my dad last night on my way home. Though he hid it relatively well, he was clearly anxious to ask how my weekend went, to see whether or not I would be continuing on with Alexandra. It was a little funny, but also slightly distressing...I know my parents are both starting to...not worry about me and my romantic prospects, but become a bit concerned, given that I haven't "officially" dated anyone since 2005. I wrote a lengthy "Friends and Family Only" post yesterday about my trip, but to summarize publicly: it was good to see Alexandra, we had a fun time together, I was reminded why we connected in the first place, I feel like there could potentially be a relationship buried in there somewhere, but I still have hesitations and fears. I basically told my dad this, which made him happy...and again, it's not some weird "I need grandchildren" sort of thing, but my parents fear that I'm often too serious about things and don't have enough fun...which is true. They want to see me happy and they feel that a significant other would partially help ease my solemn loneliness...and they're not wholly incorrect.
And now I'm here at work again (speaking of a lack of fun)...my boss and co-worker (the latter being back from her epic vacation to Cannes...) are in Bentonville today for a meeting with Wal-Mart, so I'm left to my own devices today. Sure, I've got a few things to do, but mostly, it'll be a day of playing with the champagne bubbles I got at the engagement party over the weekend and surfing the internet. I am somewhat excited, though: I've finally figured out how to get Starbucks coffee to taste good. Back in the day (six months ago), I used to get Starbucks regularly and fill it with Equal and milk...and then I stopped using Equal because it's bad for you...and then I stopped using milk because of my delicate stomach (have I mentioned this before? No more dairy for me). So now, when I drink coffee, it's black...and I've found that Starbucks tastes awful (as does Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, which is even worse).
However, I've replaced my milk intake with soy milk, which works well with my homemade coffee in the mornings, but makes things difficult when it comes to drinking coffee out in the world. I usually gravitate towards Noah's Chelsea coffee (flavored), but it's a bit of a walk from the office. But this weekend, while in Miami and hanging out in a Barnes & Noble with Alexandra (at the Sunset Mall...what a fun mall, as malls go), I had the idea to ask for them to put soy milk in my black coffee (because they don't offer it at the self-service area along with the regular milk, I never think about it). Lo and behold, they poured in some of their special Starbucks Silk soy milk, and wow...it was awesome. Now it almost tastes like hot chocolate, but without the calories, sugar or lactose. Hooray! And it's available at every Starbucks (or every one I've tried so far since then)...who knew?
Okay, back to work...my co-worker Gia is currently chatting with some girl who wants to be an intern here, so clearly, I should look busy...and maybe I should hide the unicorn toy that Jamie gave me for my birthday. Nah.
[this is good] I better, perhaps, shall keep silent
Posted by: Damian Walling | 05/23/2010 at 07:57 AM