The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (PG-13, 2008)

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.

Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Sanaa Hamri
Cast: Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively
Genre: Drama
Run time: 117 minutes
Theatrical release: August 6, 2008
DVD release: November 17, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: mature material and sensuality.