Sex and the City

HBO / Craig Blankenhorn

Review in a Hurry: Sex addicts will squeal and kick up their Manolo heels for the big-screen adventures of Mr. Big and the fab four fashionistas. Though not as fierce as the groundbreaking HBO series, this stylish NYC romance is hardly a hot tranny mess.

The Bigger Picture: The cultural phenom that had us all slurping Cosmos and sporting tutus and Jimmy Choos (OK, not all of us) finally sashays into theaters after a four-year wait. Sure, fans by now are voracious for more Sex, but isn't a 142-minute running time overcompensating?

The flick easily picks up where the finale left off: Author-fashion icon Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) plans a lavish wedding with Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but the ever-elusive guy has second thoughts. Cynical, wisecracking lawyer Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) struggles to trust her hubby again after a sexual indiscretion. Eternal optimist Charlotte (Kristin Davis) cares for her adopted daughter but still longs to get pregnant. And cougar-prototype Samantha (Kim Cattrall) lives in Hollywood with the hunkster actor she manages.

Size only matters if you know what to do with it, and SATC feels less like a cohesive feature than a string of TV episodes.

Writer-director Michael Patrick King has trouble interweaving all the characters and storylines, as Miranda and Charlotte disappear for long periods, Charlotte's subplot lacks development and the middle slumps with a glum Carrie shattered over...something I won't spoil here. And while Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson, as Carrie's personal assistant, adds a sweet and youthful presence, her character isn't that interesting.

Though dramatically uneven, SATC still offers a number of pleasures, usually in simpler scenes, as the gal-pals banter, talk love and sex, and, yes, try on clothes. Fashion montages in movies are almost always expendable, but here the scenes are so joyous and girl-empowering (and deserving of mad style points!), they only add to the friendship fun.

Sex, even when it's not great, is still good.

The 180—a Second Opinion: Straight guys will probably be wondering...will the climax ever come? When can I grab my clothes and go home? Sorry, SATC, he's just not that into you.