Starring Sarah Jessica Parker. Rated 14A. Opens Wednesday, May 26

Although the conspicuous consumption that bloated the first Sex and the City movie happens on an even grander scale here, its sequel manages to stay grounded enough in real-life concerns to satisfy fans of the breakthrough HBO show, if not win over new ones.

The shamelessly entertaining SATC2 starts with a wedding so gay that Liza Minnelli is both the officiator and its chief entertainer. The sparkle of that mega-shindig soon gets relentless worrywart Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) pondering the potential staleness of her marriage to Big (Chris Noth), who lately prefers watching old Frank Capra movies at home to crossing the velvet rope in search of new places to show off Carrie in her best Manolos.

Pushed along by writer-director (and series veteran) Michael Patrick King, events conspire to send the pun-happy writer and her fabulous pals on a no-expense-spared trip to Abu Dhabi, where they sample the contradictory riches of the Middle East (actually Morocco, because Abu Dhabi turned the film production away). The ritzy trip gives lawyer Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) a chance to cut loose and reevaluate her career priorities, and allows Charlotte (Kristin Davis) time to obsess about her hubby’s staying at home in Manhattan with the hot new Irish nanny (Alice Eve).

And Samantha (Kim Cattrall)? Despite hot flashes, she’s trying to give no man a pause, deeply offending Muslims while ogling the Australian rugby team and scoping out the macho Danish architect (Max Ryan) she dubs Lawrence of My-Labia.

By the time Carrie bumps into old flame Aidan (John Corbett) in a local souk, it’s almost more trouble than the 146-minute movie needs. The desert sojourn drags a little, and viewers will argue over what it’s saying about women and what they’re up against, at home and from these broads. But the messy bits are mixed with the genuine moments of friendship and heartfelt consideration that this series was known for. SATC is still best when it kicks off its shoes.