Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+
Just as fun, sexy, and label heavy as the series.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this comedy is based on HBO's hugely popular series Sex and the City TV series, which has garnered quite a following among teens thanks to DVDs and edited reruns in syndication. The movie is very similar to the unedited version of the show -- meaning that while it's warm and endearing (for the most part), it's also quite raunchy. There's plenty of frank talk about sex, sometimes in front of a child (though the characters use a euphemism to shield her from their usual saucy banter). There's also a fair amount of partial nudity (both female and male, including breasts and butts), a brief male frontal shot (or, rather, a glimpse of the front from the side), and characters shown in various sexual positions. Also expect lots of salty language, a good bit of drinking, and piles of high-end brand names and products. But, all of that said, just like the series, the sex and shopping aren't really the point here -- the women's friendships are.
- Families can talk about how the movie presents sex. Is it all just for fun, or are there consequences? If so, what are those consequences?
- What messages are teens likely to take away from the movie about
relationships?
- Does the movie deal with the same issues as the series? Is the quest for love still the
central theme? If so, what kind of love? In the end, does a woman need a relationship to be whole?
- What's the glue that binds
these characters together? What role do friends have in your life? Do
they sometimes take the place of family? Why?
The good stuff
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Positive messages: Although threre's plenty of iffy behavior, the movie has a very warm heart beating at its center (in the form of the foursome's enduring friendship), and the characters' misdeeds aren't borne out of malice but are the result of human frailty. In the end, everyone is supportive of each other and, above all else, honest.
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Positive role models: Men cheat and jilt, women lie to their friends (and shop, shop, shop),
both sexes waffle at commitment -- but it all sounds worse than it is. Overall, the characters care about each other and their relationships very much.
What to watch for
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Violence: A woman hits a man over the head with a bouquet. Otherwise, just lots of emotional sparring.
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Sex: The title doesn't lie: There's tons of sex in the movie. Sex in the shower, sex on beds, even a threesome. Nudity includes several shots of breasts (often heaving in passion), butts, and a quick glimpse of male genitalia. There's also an attempted seduction on a dining table (with sushi used to conceal sensitive bits). Some scenes are explicit and up close, while others are quick cuts.
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Language: As with the HBO series, colorful and uncensored, including everything from "bitch," "a--hole," and "dick" to "bulls--t" and "f--k." But not as frequent as in some other R-rated comedies.
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Consumerism: Hello, product placement. Rather than ask what was included, better to consider what wasn't. Expect a parade of Louis Vuitton purses, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Chanel dresses, Tiffany boxes, a Vivienne Westwood wedding dress, Skyy vodka, Vitamin Water, and more -- the name-dropping and label-flashing stops for no one.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Frequent social drinking and some smoking (cigars, outside a bar after a celebration). One of the characters slides into a funk after suffering a major heartbreak and self-medicates with alcohol.