Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Review

   The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2is the sequel based on a four novel, teen chick book series by Ann Brashares. This follow-up continues with another summer in the lives of the four girls, who are no longer teenagers, but college students. Their lives appear to be growing apart when they spend their summers on four completely different adventures of discovery as they seem to forget each other a bit. Tibby spends her summer facing commitment-phobia as she goes to NYU summer school. Lena takes a summer drawing course to distract her from the troubles with her long love, Kostos when she finds a model distraction in front of her. Bridgette takes a break from Soccer to travel on an archaeological study which leaves her empty and searching for the history of her own life. While Carmen is broken hearted at the idea that all of her friends want to spend the summer apart and deals with it by taking a on a theater workshop where she discovers a talent of her own. The girls come together to realize their bond is stronger than an old pair of pants. Directed by Saani Hamri, rated PG-13

Starring: Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Tom Wisdom, Rachel Ticotin, Rachel Nichols, Leonardo Nam, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Blythe Danner

   While I was a fan of the first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I was kind of left disappointed. Weren't there four books? While I hadn't read all but the first, I new the fourth installment ended with a particular element, that I wouldn't be able to reveal here without ruining the movie for those who haven't seen it.

   I got the impression that they summed up the middle two novels in the first five minutes, then started the sequel's plot at the fourth book. I had been looking forward to this sequel since I saw and read the first. With movies from books, unless I've already read the book(s), I tend to wait until after the movie to read the book, that way, if they didn't do the book justice, the movie isn't ruined for me and it tells me I'll enjoy the book(s) even more. I enjoyed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, in general, but it did appear that the condensing of the plot lines of all the girls left a bit to be desired. I was really anticipating seeing more than two installments! I really was hoping there would be four movies, that leaves much to look forward to for chick lit and chick flick fans.

   I enjoyed seeing where the girls end up and seeing their life changes, but I was angry that I missed the "in betweens." The drama and quite a bit more comedy, compared to the first, in the sequel was enjoyable, but the disappointment of knowing that the sequel is the final installment made the enjoyment of the movie bitter sweet.

   Not all movies have to have the effects and action packed factor of the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings for there to be a following. A great plot line of books like the Traveling Pants series, along with a great cast to play those characters, which this book inspired movie had, has a good female following that should be recognized by the film industry and we are intelligent enough to know when we're being jilted.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2just became available on Blue Ray & DVD! . . . I still enjoyed the movie enough to be on my way to get my copy!