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'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2'

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BY RAFER GUZMÁN | rafer.guzman@newsday.com

August 6, 2008

If you've shopped at corporate retail lately, you may have noticed that little of the clothing actually looks new. Faded T-shirts, frayed trousers, "destroyed" jeans - everything appears weathered and well-worn. That's appealing to those younger than, say, 20: They haven't lived long enough to make anything look lived-in.

So it is with the ripped and patched blue jeans at the center of " The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2." And the movie itself has an aspirational quality: Its vision of college life will look much more grown-up to those who haven't yet enrolled.

As with the first "Traveling Pants," in 2005, this sequel follows four young high-school friends based on characters in Ann Brashares' bestselling novels. Now everyone's a little older: Sensitive Lena ( Alexis Bledel) studies art; down-to-earth Carmen ( America Ferrera) works backstage at a Vermont theater; alt-rocker Tibby ( Amber Tamblyn) attends NYU's film school; tomboyish Bridget ( Blake Lively) joins an archaeological dig in Turkey.

As you might guess, the drama comes mostly from boys, boys, boys. Lena falls into the well-defined arms of a nude male model, while Carmen meets a young British actor. Tibby provides the film's one clear nod to sexual activity. Only Bridget seems to have more pressing issues: She's trying to make sense of her mother's suicide.

It's hard to get too involved in the story lines, which unfold like four half-hour television series quilted together. And the stakes are generally low: Which hunk to choose? Still, let's hope these jeans don't fade away: It might be interesting to see these women wear them at 40.

(PG-13)

'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2'

PLOT Four high-school friends share a pair of magical jeans as they navigate the new waters of college.

CAST Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn

LENGTH 1:56

PLAYING AT Area theaters

BOTTOM LINE The story lines are as threadbare as the pants, but it's not often you see four strong young women in one movie.