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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2: Navigation

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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this winning (if unsurprising) sequel is sure to appeal to teens and older tweens who are fans of both the books it's based on and the four stars, who are veterans of TV shows like Gossip Girl and Ugly Betty. That said, the characters are older now, and this film takes on more mature themes than the first movie. Some characters are sexually active: One girl loses her virginity, only to have a pregnancy scare soon after. Two underage characters drink wine in one minor scene, there are heavy discussions about suicide, and friendships are tested in sometimes painful ways. But all of these issues are relatable, and it's refreshing to see a film take them on in a straightforward manner. It's also great to see empowered, interested, caring teens make their way in the world.

Families can talk about what makes this movie different from other teen flicks. Is it a realistic or "Hollywood-ized" depiction of college students' lives and friendships? Can relationships that begin in childhood be sustained through life's ups and downs? How do you support your friends when they feel sad or angry? Families can also discuss the girls' different dilemmas. What issues do they have to confront? What choices must they make? How have they changed since the first movie?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: S. Jhoanna Robledo

The girls are back -- and so are the magical pair of pants -- in this sequel to the hit movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which itself was based on a series of books by the same name. Life is a little more complicated this time around, with the four main characters dispersed to various places during the summer after their freshman year in different colleges. Lena (Alexis Bledel) is taking a life-drawing class that pushes her beyond the typical bounds of love, while aspiring filmmaker Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) is writing a romantic comedy even as her own love life hits definite peaks and valleys. Meanwhile, archaeology student Bridget (Blake Lively) is inspired to dig into her own past, and Carmen (America Ferrera) realizes that she's not just a bit player in the theater or in life: She's a star. But all of the distance and excitement has tested the girls' friendships, and the pants may have lost their magic. Or have they?

Sweet, endearing, and, yes, a mite predictable, THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 won't disappoint fans of the first movie and the books. (It blends events from the second, third, and fourth books, though it mostly focuses on the fourth.) Just as in the original movie, the lead actresses all rise to the occasion, notably Tamblyn, who's a standout in her Goth getups and faux bravado. The problems they encounter are bigger here, and they delve into questions about love -- both familial and romantic -- as well as identity and even young parenthood. The film also examines the difficulties of maintaining long-standing relationships under the strains of time, distance, and lack of communication.

It's all interesting, for sure, but the overabundance of storylines hobbles the movie a bit: It feels fragmented, like the characters' lives. Thankfully, it's still nuanced, though it does take on quite a bit -- no wonder it runs a little too long. But in the end, the bonds of friendship are stronger than anything life lobs in the sisterhood's way.

Fans may also enjoy The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie and books, as well as the hit TV shows that made the four leads famous, including Joan of Arcadia (Tamblyn), Gilmore Girls (Bledel), Ugly Betty, and (for older viewers only!) Gossip Girl.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content A 19-year-old has sex for the first time with her steady boyfriend (only the girl's bare shoulders are shown; bare chest for the guy); her boyfriend tells her the condom breaks, and she later has a pregnancy scare. Fairly passionate kissing between three other couples. References to how another supporting character got a girl pregnant. Discussions about contraception.
Violence One character's mother committed suicide years earlier. More backbiting than actual physical fights.
Language "Suck" and "hell" are about as bad as it gets.
Message
	Social Behavior Miscommunication befalls couples who are clearly in love; a teen avoids the boy she loves after sex because she's confused; a father cuts off communication between his daughter and mother-in-law, an act that has helped contribute to a character's confusion about her identity. Loyal pals neglect each other, though they manage to find their way back to friendship.
	Commercialism Somewhat heavy name-dropping of colleges, including NYU, Brown, Yale, and RISD; labels for Ding Dongs and Duane Reade. Since one of the main characters works at a video store, lots of posters for movies are visible. A T-Mobile Sidekick, logo clearly displayed, is brandished often. A Nintendo DS is mentioned by name.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Two underage characters drink a bottle of wine.

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