The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2

Tibby (Amber Tamlyn), Lena (Alexis Bledel), Carmen (America Fererra) and Bridget (Blake Lively) have been best friends since childhood. At the beginning of their summer vacation, they discover a magical pair of jeans that fits each one of them perfectly and they decide to share the pants as a symbol of their friendship. Wearing them for a week to feel better about themselves and then sending them on to one of the others…

Based on the young adult book by Ann Brashares, this is a light-hearted and good natured movie about female friendship, It will undoubtedly be more appealing rto women than men but it is a feel-good coming-of-age movie that leaves you with a smile on your face. Yes, it is a bit predictable and a little schmaltzy but it also has interesting things to say about life and relationships and each of the four characters go through their own learning curves.

The story is told both as a single narrative, voiced by the very able America Fererra, and as multiple narratives as we have an account of the preoccupations and activities of each of the girls that blends into a seamless whole. This allows the story to move on at quite a lick and keeps one’s interest piqued. Every viewer will have their own favourite storyline but it is hard not to like Carmen, played by the wonderful Fererra, who brings just the right amount of frustration and heartache to her discovery that her father is about to marry again, this time to a Barbie clone, when she and her mother - who is about to have a new baby - show the traits of their Puerto Rican roots.

This is not a film of which I had terribly high expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. It has a lovely spirit and is enjoyable from start to finish with some fine performances from all four of the leading ladies and the supporting adult cast.