Sex And The City 2 Reviews: Critic Calls Film 'Anti-Muslim'

Hollywood Reporter writer Stephen Farber thinks "Sex and the City 2" is going to be a "smash" hit. He also thinks the film is "anti-Muslim."

In a review that's generated headlines around the web, Farber writes that "'SATC 2' is at once proudly feminist and blatantly anti-Muslim, which means that it might confound liberal viewers."

"The rather scathing portrayal of Muslim society no doubt will stir controversy, especially in a frothy summer entertainment, but there's something bracing about the film's saucy political incorrectness. Or is it politically correct?" Farber writes.

In the highly anticipated sequel to the 2008 film, Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) and her friends travel to Abu Dhabi on an all-expenses-paid luxury vacation. However, SATC2, as it's known, was actually shot on location in Morocco, after Abu Dhabi denied the movie permission to film there. Abu Dhabi is even considering banning the film, the Telegraph reported recently.

Farber is not alone in calling attention to the film's treatment of Muslims. As Brian Lowry wrote in Variety: "There's also some not-very-convincing rumination on the treatment of Muslim women -- even in what's supposed to be a relatively progressive Arab country -- that seems more condescending than stirring."

Hadley Freeman of the Daily Mail also slammed the film's treatment of race. "Not since 1942's Arabian Nights has orientalism been portrayed so unironically. All Middle Eastern men are shot in a sparkly light with jingly jangly music just in case you didn't get that these dusky people are exotic and different," Freeman wrote.

Sky News points out a few of the scenes that may cause offense:

One scene even features the four main characters being rescued by Muslim women who strip off their burkhas to reveal the stylish Western outfits they are concealing beneath their black robes.

While in another scene, the ladies perform a karaoke version of Helen Reddy's I Am Woman in an Abu Dhabi nightclub, as man-eater Samantha shocks the locals with her sexual escapades.

Tell us: Does the film's treatment of Muslims seem insensitive?

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Comments

[Shareef Muhammad]

02:02 AM on 07/24/2010

To start, burkahs are not worn in Morrocco, Abu Dabi or any other Muslim country save Afghanistan for that matter. Secondy, the film's implied notion that the women of Sex In The City are the profile for the liberated, independently thinking female in contrast to the cliche notion of Muslim women as oppressed is ironic considering that to many Muslim women Carrie , Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda come off as confused, self-alienated, spiritually vacuous, superficial, intellectually shallow, egregiously immature, materialistic and at times even neurotic. Conspicuously absent in the public discourse on Muslim women are the voices of Muslim women. This, despite that many devout and observant Muslim women who wear the hijab (head covering) and or niqab (face veil) occupy positions as professors, business women, lawyers and activists throughout the world including those countries that have the most gender restrictions. Yet, you Westerners who are as unilateral in dialogue as you are in your foreign policy continue talking about Muslim women as though they are not the room. To them it is you who have excluded their voices in an effort to protect your portrayal of them as unable to speak for themselves. A portrayal that is the foundation of your self-righteousness. Shame on you.

[Tasies]

02:24 PM on 06/25/2010

Nothing new here, Hollywood has been portraying Arabs as baby eating orangutans since its inception.

Now, Sex In the City, while not taking it too seriously, is a vapid and silly little piece of indoctrination. The characters always seem to me a little soulless and synthetic, a caricature of what liberated western woman should be.

[SamanthaNJ]

03:42 PM on 06/24/2010

Found the first one so hard to sit through that the second one never stood a chance to rifle through my pockets for $8.50. The commercial was embarrasing enough. "We're not in Kansas anymore!"... OMG so bad! Oh wait,... I thought this was rottentomatoes.com. whoops. :)

[AnimalLover6]

12:41 AM on 06/03/2010

The storyline in the film about the Muslim women wearing stylish Western fashions under their head and body coverings is absolutely true--at least, for the middle and upper classes in Muslim society. Many drink alcohol in the home, watch pirated films, have lavish Western-style parties. It's not that surprising, really.

[Kate Ramunni]

09:23 PM on 05/31/2010

Somehow I don't find it shocking that many are not upset about the anti-Muslim tone of the movie. When Samantha gives all those Muslim men the finger, it's almost like she is doing what many Americans would like to do but can't because of political correctness. After almost 10 years of living in constant fear after 9/11, America is tired. And almost every terrorist act or attempt at destruction is attributed to Muslims. Yes not all Muslims are terrorists, but it certainly appears that all terrorists are Muslims. Americans are tired of it!

[Tasies]

02:28 PM on 06/25/2010

And what do you think Muslims are tired of? Certainly not being invaded under false pretenses, incarcerated and abused, occupied, and portrayed as savages. Of course, Americans are so civil and advanced. What a joke. People think it's PC, when the fact is that Arabs have been portrayed below rats and monkeys before Hollywood needed the excuse of terrorism. It's good to step down from the high horse once in a while.

[rpence]

06:24 PM on 05/31/2010

One of the main messages of this thread seems to be that SATC2 is sacred and immune to criticism. Those who are raising legitimate objections about its portrayals are insulted and told to just shut up and go away. As if any of this dialogue is preventing people from going to the movie and enjoying it. As if any of this dialogue is preventing the movie from making hundreds of millions of dollars.

It's dialogue. It's free speech. It's not an attempt at censorship. Nor is it a matter of anyone expecting the movie to be "PC."

I do think it's unfair for some to single out SATC2 for stereotyping Muslims, women, gays, et al. I also think the fact that the movie is primarily aimed at women accounts for some of the criticism, and that's wrong. Women have as much of a right as men do to have escapist entertainment. The movie is no worse, and is probably better than, the typical Adam Sandler or Bruce Willis film. Just about any Mel Gibson film is far, far more offensive and destructive.

Still, SATC2's not immune to criticism. And those who can't handle it without lashing out at people trying to have a debate about the movie's cultural impact have no basis for calling themselves progressive, or believers in free speech, or even very intelligent.

[Hardyman1966]

12:19 AM on 05/31/2010

You can't turn around without offending someone's religious sensibilities these days.

Offendees simply need to understand that the offenders just doesn't believe in their mythology.

If it stopped there, the world would be a much nicer (and less bloody) place.

[Shareef Muhammad]

02:10 AM on 07/24/2010

Your comment is irrelevent and I would presume even hypocritical. This is not forcing others to believe in my religion as a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence. This is about shallow cultural stereotypes that worthy or attack and criticism.

[Trevor Lloyd]

05:55 PM on 05/30/2010

Hadley Freeman writes for The Guardian.

The review is here...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/may/23/sex-and-the-city-film-terrible

[duxguts]

04:17 AM on 05/30/2010

I just thought that "Sex in the city" was meant to make the women of New York out to be idiots.

[jbarelli]

04:12 AM on 05/29/2010

A movie about four self-absorbed women desperately trying to find the perfect orgasm, while complaining that their luxurious and lavish lifestyles are too stifling for their oh-so-sophisticated selves.

Religious people should be offended. As should non-religious people. Actually, If your IQ is higher than the ticket price, you should be offended.

Not so much offended by the movie, but offended that the producers expect people to actually pay money to see yet another installment of this tripe. These women were obnoxious on the small screen.

Personally, I'll save my ten bucks. But there is one redeeming feature to this film.

The reviews over at Rotten Tomatoes are hilarious.

[stormbear]

09:28 AM on 05/31/2010

My wife and I are going to see Oceans this afternoon - we need to be reminded of what the wtaer looked like without all the damn oil.

[openmindedcsc]

12:17 AM on 06/15/2010

I do think that you need to see the movie before giving your opinion. The movie is not about all four women trying to find the perfect orgasm, just Samantha.

[SteveDenver]

06:36 PM on 05/28/2010

I think it's becoming more and more difficult NOT to offend religious people. Seems like someone always finds grounds for outrage. I find religion offensive.

[Tasies]

02:33 PM on 06/25/2010

I find religion offensive too, but what I find most offensive is that Hollywood has depicted Arabs and Muslims as yetis and savages. Check the documentary "Reel Bad Arabs," and you'll realize how Hollywood has indulged in wholesale character assassination. According to Hollywood, Arabs are subhumans, inherently evil, and soulless.

[Shareef Muhammad]

02:13 AM on 07/24/2010

"I find religion offensive" Well see, I guess its impossible to not offend somebody.

[AverageJose007]

05:17 PM on 05/28/2010

So.

[DomainDiva]

02:48 PM on 05/28/2010

Mom and 2 daughters out tonight to see SATC2. It's tradition! SATC is what it is and has never had to apologize before. Why start now????

[roxn]

02:41 PM on 05/28/2010

If you have been to Morocco you know there are two worlds ~ or maybe three. Better to talk to older European women who visit !!!! Remember Stella!! And the Islamic women are powerless ~ pretty much!!

You see some strange sights down there!
Everybody is human ~ you know!!

**Read between the lines**

You might see some [more like just a few] of the very old in burqas ~ and their younger daughter might be in jeans. But freedom there is slow in coming. I think the problem with the stereotypical image of Muslim women ~ is that it is worst than we think!

Like for example if you are a Muslim woman you wouldn't go to a restaurant or cafe and sit where you could be seen ~ that's for men, tourists and prostitutes [prostitute = free woman or is rather confused with]. A Muslim woman in Morocco would try to hide herself in the back. But the richer set, are pushing the boundaries.

In Morocco people would be arrested for going on a date ~ while not being married. You have to explain to the religious police what your relationship is with a girl or guy. You would be taken to the police station and questioned.

Morocco is not free and the women there literally don't have very many rights ~ but the King ~ who is practically worshipped ~ is trying to change this.

All this offending stuff is a bit silly!!

[westakhen]

03:09 PM on 05/30/2010

"In Morocco people would be arrested for going on a date ~ while not being married."

that is bull, straight up, plainly and simply NOT true

[Shareef Muhammad]

02:17 AM on 07/24/2010

"its worse than we think"? Huh! Do Muslim women say this? I think you are assuming that your value system which is hedonism is transcultural and its not.

[IntellectuallyHonest]

02:28 PM on 05/28/2010

Hollywood has a lot of stuff that is anti-Muslim/anti-Arab. Most of those movies either involve American police or spies/soldiers.