he movie version of Sex and the City, written and directed by Michael Patrick King, wastes no time plunging into the fashion-conscious, appealingly neurotic world of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha - women who can always count on each other when men disappoints them. And, of course, celebrating high style, complete with the requisite Cosmopolitan consumption and needless shopping sprees.

This follow-up to the hit TV show picks up four years after the 2004 series left off: The women are most definitely in their 40s, with romance columnist Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her commitment-phobic Mr. Big (Chris Noth) so secure in their relationship that they set the big wedding date. This gives Carrie a chance to try on a myriad of designer wedding dresses.

Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Harry (Evan Handler) are parents to adopted Lily plus Elizabeth Taylor and her offspring. Samantha (Kim Cattrall) has settled down – across the country in a Malibu beach house with her boy-toy lover/client, actor Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis). Meanwhile, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Steve (David Eigenberg) are doing their Brooklyn thing. Also making a welcome return are the remaining regulars, fabulous New York, fashion, swag parties and more rapid-fire dialogue.

Think of it not as a long movie but as a half season slammed together into one solid dose

Unlike the TV show, where Carrie's article focused each episode around a relationship situation, there is no such focus. Carrie and Mr. Big are getting married, but this soon turns into plans for the fashion marriage of the century, with a guest list of 200 and a Vivienne Westwood gown in tow.

Then something very big happens, a snafu that metastasizes into a monstrous disaster. Meanwhile, Carrie's bridesmaids are dealing with complicated issues of their own, ranging from infertility to infidelity, boy toy grief, and something to do with wearing sushi to bed for some change-of-pace savory foreplay.