Mandy Griffiths
There is a trend in life to judge what is normal based on what we observe around us, namely those we work and socialise with. While many in Hollywood spent time on the poverty line before achieving success, it can be presumed that those making the decisions in movieland are pretty well off and have been for awhile. And sometimes, this shows.
I’m not talking about movies where riches are on display but the moral of story shows that money can’t buy everything. Even romantic comedies get a pass because almost all of them work on the basis that everyone in life is comfortably well off, has designer clothing and doesn’t need to worry about any sort of ramifications to turning up to work hungover or paying off their college fees. No, this is reserved purely for those movies where they not only have no concept that the life they are portraying is limited to an elite few, but the central conflict of the film, well, is just not that much of a conflict.
Let’s start with “I Don’t Know How She Does It”. Well, she actually does it with a supportive husband, a well paying job, and a nanny. That’s how she does it. You know what’s harder? Raising kids WITHOUT a supportive husband, a well paying job and a nanny, as most of the population does. Yes it probably is still tiring and difficult. You know what else is tiring and difficult? Opening a jar of salsa, and no one’s made a film about that.
Having not read the book I appreciate there were probably a few more complexities within “Eat Pray Love”, and I’m all for traveling, big fan. Huge. The thing is – you don’t change personalities when you travel, and the problems you have at home don’t magically disappear. What you do is spend money. A lot of it. So if you have a lot of money, and are bored, sure, why not, spend a year abroad, eat pasta, meditate, and meet some handsome guys. Way to tackle the big issues.
Now, “Sex and the City II”. This is not a list specifically designed to pick on Sarah Jessica Parker, but this is the movie when ”Sex and the City” just stopped. being. fun. While the first movie began the descent with a fixation on labels, this sequel had no sex AND no city, the plot revolved around a luxurious overseas trip with a G rated rehashing of the Carrie/Big/Aiden triangle, menopause jokes and…not much else. Oh yes, it also had Charlotte and Miranda cry about how hard it is being a mother while staying at an international 5 star resort when their nannies and supportive husbands were at home taking care of the kids. But, American supremest overtones aside, my issue with this film was the end “rush to the airport” sequence. They were not trying to get there in time to declare their love to the man of their dreams, or to stop someone from making a terrible mistake. They were rushing because if they didn’t get there in time they would lose their first class tickets and would have to fly coach. That was the third act stressful moment of the film. ”Sex and the City”, you officially became unrelateable.
Wrong again, suits.
Meantime, hope y’all have a cracker Christmas!
