Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Watching this film (and the 2005 original a few days earlier), I was struck by the similarities between them and "Sex and the City." The funny thing is, the four central characters in these films are written with more intelligence, maturity and likability than those in the unctuous "Sex in the City" movie, despite being over 20 years younger. Go figure.

You are right, Dustin. The girls in this movie are interested in more than clothes and guys. In both cases -- along with other "sisterhood" movies like "Steel Magnolias" and "Ya-Ya Sisterhood," I think the appeal is first the idea of the different characters expressing different aspects of a personality (in a way, all together they make up one integrated whole) and second, as with all idealized love stories equally grounded in truth and fantasy, the idea of unconditional love and support.

Thanks, PJ -- the references are very mild by comparison with much of what is on broadcast television, including shows very popular with middle schoolers, which is the basis for the age recommendation. But the purpose of my descriptions of the material is to give parents the information they need to make decisions that are right for their families and the age recommendations are only a starting point.

My oldest daughter will be 12 in two weeks. I would not allow her to see this movie, though I don't believe she wants to anyway. The previews alone are not appropriate for the Nickelodeon channel (which is where I have seen them), especially when younger children are watching. I feel even some PG movies are pushing it these days. I don't feel I am old fashioned or strict, but my kids won't be seeing any move that has ANY sex or references to it.

I strongly disagree with Teri's assessment of the Sisterhood films. Although there are sex references in the context of the film, the material handles the situations in responsible ways that go beyond your average PG-13 film these days- and are presented in a format that can lead to valuable discussion between young women and their parents, if the parent is willing to be open with them about the issues at hand (especially since sexuality should be discussed for concern of health and well being, unlike the constant violence which litters the cinema for teenagers). I applaud the filmmakers for making these films for girls, who may be just under 13 and are the target audience, because too often films geared towards them are crude and sexualized well beyond their years, even with the same rating.

I really appreciate this feedback, Joni. You may find the information you need at screenit.com, run by my friend Jim Judy. I found the level of material in this movie to be less explicit and more principled than much of what is on broadcast television, which I usually consider the dividing line between what I suggest for middle school vs. high school. I hope middle schoolers do not have sex or draw pictures of nude models. But as they begin to think about what the future has in store for them, it may be appropriate in some cases for them to see stories about older girls who make good and bad choices and deal with the consequences. But I support the judgment of parents on whether their children are ready for this material and I especially support their having the courage to leave the theater and get a refund if they are not satisfied.

I am sorry you did not feel you got the information you needed from my review. In fairness, I did mention the nude model and caution parents that it included "sexual references and non-explicit situations, frank discussions of birth control, a pregnancy scare, a non-explicit childbirth scene, some mild peril, and a reference to suicide." I don't think I implied that the decisions the girls in the movie made were "normal" or wise. What I did say was that the movie was refreshingly honest in portraying life's complications and not pretending that every problem could be solved, but was reassuring that all problems can be made better through our connections to the people we care about.

Brian, I respect your position and Joni's and that is why I provide the information I do in my reviews -- so that parents like you can make informed decisions about the movies your children see. Your children are lucky to have parents who care; I see so many kids in films that are inappropriate to the point of being abusive. As I have said before in responding to other comments, the young adults I interviewed when writing my book all wished their parents had been more protective. Not one thought they should have been able to see movies that their parents prohibited. So I agree that your daughters will appreciate your rules some day. There are some services that remove objectionable material from movies. You might want to check out Clearplay if you have not already. However, this movie has more than five minutes of material of concern, so it would not be a good candidate for that service.

Thank you, Laura! It means a lot to me to create a place where people can express their disagreements with both candor and respect and I feel very lucky that people on this site realize that all of us share the common goal of doing what is best to teach our children about the world in a way that keeps them feeling both safe and curious. I am very glad you wrote and hope you will return often to let us know what you think about the movies you see.

Hi, Susie -- if you saw the first film you know that it is Bailey, the character played by Jenna Boyd. Thanks for writing!