SmartGirl Editor Becca reviews:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
A movie

I've been a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants fan since I fell in love with the first book by author Ann Brasheres. I am not, however, usually a fan of movies based on books, so I was surprised when I enjoyed the first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie. Since I liked the first so much, I obviously had to see the second, but unfortunately, I wasn't as delighted.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 falls into the same trap that so many movies based on books fall into: someone decides the events of the book aren't nearly exciting or interesting enough for the big screen, so they simplify the plot to make it easier to follow. Sometimes, it works well. And sometimes, it doesn't. I hate to say it, but this is one case where it definitely doesn't.

The movie revolves around the lives of four friends - Tibby, Bridget, Lena and Carmen - who have been close since childhood. To keep in touch when they are separated from each other, they mail around a pair of lucky jeans that they share. The movie takes place during their first summer after their first year of college and follows each of their adventures. Though they are all off doing their own thing, their plots overlap and intersect, creating four smaller stories within one larger story.

I loved the characters in the books and in the first movie, but they didn't seem quite as real in this one. And one thing is for sure, they were definitely boy crazy. In fact, with the exception of Bridget's story, it seemed like the whole movie centered around who was going to wind up with which guy, and I have to say, it got a little boring after awhile. I found this pretty disappointing. I loved the books because I thought they realistically portrayed girls' lives - each character dealt with issues with family, friends and relationships and all at the same time. Unfortunately, they didn't bring that perspective to the movie.

All in all, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 is an entertaining, feel-good kind of movie, a great choice if you're looking for a flick to watch with your best buds. But if you're a fan of the series, you might find yourself pretty frustrated watching this interpretation of the books, so be warned!

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