 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
- Review Date: October 9, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Sensitive portrayal of four girls' friendships.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that characters deal with difficult issues, including a parent's suicide, disease/death of a close friend, a father's remarriage, seduction, and first time sex (this last is indicated rather than depicted explicitly). The film includes tense family scenes, with focus on reconciliation after angry flare-ups. Characters use some mild language (including "suck" and "ass") and drink.
What's the story?
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS follows four high school girl friends who separate for the summer and vow to keep in touch by way of a pair of blue jeans that magically fits all their different body sizes perfectly. They mail the jeans to one another, along with letters to keep up with what's happening in each other's lives. Lena (Alexis Bledel) is shy and quiet, on her way to Greece to visit relatives; aspiring documentary-maker Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) resents being stuck working at a local Wal-Mart-type store; golden girl Bridget (Blake Lively) is dealing with her mom's suicide and distant father as she heads to soccer camp in Mexico; and young writer Carmen (America Ferrera) goes to North Carolina to visit with her long-absent father, Al (Bradley Whitford), who announces he's about to marry Lydia (Nancy Travis), whose two blond teens seem complete opposites of Carmen. During their vacations, they explore their emerging sense of independence, while figuring out how to maintain relationships with their families and with each other, and each girl learns a valuable life lesson.
Is it any good?
Based on Ann Brashares' novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is sometimes sentimental and ultimately sensible, and it is respectful of its strong girl characters and its audience. The film introduces its protagonists as general types, but quickly grants them space to become interesting and complicated. The movie is about learning to appreciate what's in front of you as well as new experiences. But their most important lesson has to do with their mutual support and affection, which lasts over time.
Where too many movies treat a girl's losing her virginity as singularly traumatic or excessively romantic event, this one shows it as a difficult event from which she learns, recovers, and moves on. If its resolutions are at times too neat, the movie is also refreshingly frank, allowing the girls to be confused, perceptive, foolish, mad, and generous. Just like girls can be.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the film's depiction of loyalty and loss, especially as each of the girls loses something precious, but also gains experience and faith in herself and her best friends. How do you support your friends when they feel sad or angry? How can you be mad at someone but also, at the same time, still love him or her? How can loss also be an occasion for learning, sharing, and emotional maturation?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
August 28, 2009
AGE
I saw it at age ten. A bit sad :'(. LUVed it though
Was this review useful?
|
|
Parent of 10 year old
August 26, 2009
AGE
LOL :) FACE
LOL SMILEY FACE
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
August 20, 2009
AGE
cute, sad, amaizng
such a cute movie, really good, really funny, yet really emotional. its totally realistic too, which is cool. i love it. :D
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
November 2, 2010
AGE
A very good movie for tweens about friendship, summer, love, and of course a pair of jeans. If you are those kinds of parents who don't allow bad language, well there are a few not very appropriate words in this movie but it's no big deal. A good amount of kissing might gross out the younger kids but for tweens, they can handle it. There is drinking there but that was only for one scene. But overall very good movie.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
September 15, 2009
AGE
La
Just commenting
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
July 14, 2009
AGE
such a great movie
i love this movie it is one of my favorties. Great for most ages and sends posative messages about friendship
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 10 years old
June 22, 2010
AGE
Great for 11+ but not appropriate for kids under 9
I loved it!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
June 13, 2010
AGE
i liked it but not that much. i almost cryed when Bailey died i thought she was cool. and some of the movie was funny
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
July 15, 2009
AGE
Good friendship.
Best movie about friendship ever! It was funny but sad on one part. I could watch it over and over! Bridget gets a little mild with her boyfriend but that was just about it!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
September 11, 2009
AGE
i think it is super apropriate for this age&up
i love it! oneof the best movies ive ever seen! i cant stop watching!love it!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | book characters, friendship |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Ken Kwapis |
| Cast: | Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 119 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 1, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | October 11, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic elements, some sensuality and language |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
