Running Time: 89 minutes
Rating: PG
Release Date: 3 November 2011
The title really explains it all. Sarah Jessica Parker plays “ahem” young mother Kate (who are we kidding) juggling motherhood with her career as a successful financial banker. Her less driven but nonetheless, demanding husband, Richard Reddy (Greg Kinnear) isn’t sympathetic. So what’s new? Same old inequality story which the film’s backers thought would somehow gain a greater audience with ex- SATC quasi feminist Carrie Bradshaw! Hmmm think again. Note to director Douglas McGrath those SATC wannabes want escapism and glam not drudgery. If you’re hoping for another version of the Big and Carrie story replete with kids then think again. The fashionistas will cringe in horror at Parker’s unkempt hair and lack of Jimmy Choos or Manolos.
Unfortunately the lack of fashion sense does not equate to it being a serious film, instead it is silly and trite even though there are several scenes which most women can relate to. Parker is simply irritating and unbelievable as the bumbling executive. Greg Kinnear looks like he has diarrhoea most of the time which isn’t help by the limp wristed script. The best performance would have to go to Pierce Brosnan as Jack Abelhammer the dashing head honcho who surprisingly falls for Parker’s annoying charms. The screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna, based on a novel by Allison Pearson, is also plagued with an enormous guilt factor which pits females against females as well. First it’s too posh to push, breast not bottle and now stay at home (Busy Phillips as caricature Wendy Best) versus working mums. By the end these double standards and stereotypes just gets reinforced so don’t bother trying to be a supermom it just makes you super hated.
2/5 stars
More News
