the buzz log

Used to be movies were escapist fantasy. (We're looking at you, logo-loving, credit-card charging 'Sex and the City.') But even the most die-hard fashionista has become a born-again recessionista, and movies have become a touchy subject with a thrifty public. Fortunately, the makers of the upcoming 'Sex and the City' sequel are paying attention.

While the first "Sex and the City" movie was wildly successful, the subject of four women shopping, loving, and living it up in New York City may feel wildly out of sync with the times in the sequel. Sarah Jessica Parker, the movie's star, noted as much recently, saying "Times are different."

Yes, they are. Reality is glaringly apparent in a couple of recent offerings. "Confessions of a Shopaholic" follows the story of a shopping addict until her life — and her credit cards — go bad. "The International" portrays a global bank's evil doings. Both are enough to give anyone a full-blown ulcer after two hours.

As Stewart Levine of Variety says on NPR's Marketplace, "I just don't think people want to pay $10 to see the bad stuff they could read for free on the Internet at home." Or, for that matter, pay $10 to watch people spend the equivalent of a year's salary at one store.

On the other hand, just as Americans found comfort in movies during the Great Depression, perhaps the same need is true now. After all, online lookups on "Sex and the City," "Confessions of a Shopaholic," and "Sarah Jessica Parker," the woman who put Manolo Blahniks on the map, continue to heat up the Search box.

Ms. Parker seems to understand the mood. She also made the argument that SATC 2 was necessary anyway since people crave "a romp." We do, SJP. We do.