Entertainment

The Pros and Cons of 'Sex and the City 3'

by Rachel Semigran

While attending a benefit for Oxfam earlier this week in Los Angeles, Charlotte York herself, Kristin Davis, opened up about the possibility of a Sex and the City 3 film, much to the simultaneous delight and disappointment of fans: Davis, like the eternal-optimist Charlotte who she plays, was excited by the prospect of filming another movie, "I think we'd all like to do it again. We want to do it!" Though there have been rumors about cast members not getting along on or off-set, according to Davis, the women of SATC remain in contact with each other, "Every once and while something comes over us. I can't explain it. We get nostalgic. We start tweeting each other crazy things and then all of a sudden people are talking about it and we're like, 'Uh-oh.'"

"Uh-oh" is probably how many of us, even the most die-hard fans of the series, feel about a Sex and the City 3. The first film was long, dramatic, and went to places we never wanted to see many of the characters go, (Steve, cheating on Miranda? HOW COULD HE?!), but it still had a few redeeming qualities. I'm not sure I even want to remind any of us how insensitive and lazy Sex and the City 2 was. Like, we're talking Miranda's fashion choices Seasons 1-4 bad.

As wary as I am about another SATC installment (because I still love the show and don't want to lose that), it actually could do us a lot of good. Here are the pros and cons of Sex and the City 3:

Pro: More Big-Budget Films for and by Women

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The first film was groundbreaking in terms of how much it made at the box office. When it was released, few films that were made directly for a female audience had reached such heights. Even with the franchise's waning popularity, it would still likely score big with fans, and possibly a whole new generation that's fallen in love with Carrie and co. in the age of Netflix.

Con: The Films Taint the Series

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Steve is a cheater, Carrie goes dark (haired, that is), Miranda and Charlotte say some very questionable things... honestly, if you never saw the series and based your opinions of these characters on the films alone, you probably wouldn't think too highly of New York's most famous gal pals.

Pro: Say Goodbye to Hollywood Ageism

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By the time Sex and the City 3 would be released, the cast would be well into their 40's, 50's, and possibly their 60's — where they would be at perhaps the height of their careers, grown with their families, and still remain sexual, vibrant, and far from ageist cinematic stereotypes. Seeing women explore their lives and their bodies — and all of the challenges with lives and bodies at that age —when they're not the standard 20-something starlet would be a welcome change.

Con: Mr. Big is the Worst

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Remember that time Chris Noth called Carrie a whore? UGH.

Pro: The Fashion

I may not read Vogue religiously, or keep up with everything happening at NYFW, but I do know there is something incredibly artful about the clothing in every single shot of Sex and the City. From Carrie's wedding dress to her naked dress to her Paris ball gown to Samantha's unforgettably sexy ensembles and fearless approach to accessorizing — the clothes in Sex and the City aren't just fashion, they're stories.

Con: Feminism Has Moved Beyond SATC

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When SATC first premiered on HBO, audiences and critics were floored by the frank nature in which — GASP — four women talked about their sex lives. Nowadays we have Broad City, Girls, Orange is the New Black and a handful of outstanding series that openly explore the complicated, hilarious, and beautiful nature of female sexuality. I can just hear the Samantha-isms already... and I'm cringing at the thought.

Sex and the City remains a hugely important factor in the conversation surrounding women and their representation in media. But if the third movie is as stagnant in its views as the first two films were, then we're in for trouble. (C'mon, they blamed Miranda's pubic hair for Steve's betrayal. UGH.)