Oh, what a great time to be young, single and female. It seems that Hollywood has not only decided to make a commitment to quality blockbuster films, but also to more female-friendly fare that’s good.
This summer, women have enjoyed the Sex and the City Movie and now the sequel to 2005’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
It wasn’t too long ago that there wasn’t much to watch in “chick flicks.” Occasionally, there was a Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and a Devil Wears Prada. These are movies where the women are looking for love, but it’s secondary to their friends, families and careers.
This latest installment of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is set a few years after the first film. Tabitha “Tibby”(played by Amber Tamblyn) is studying film at New York University. Bridget (Blake Lively) is undecided at Brown University. Lena (Alexis Bledel) is studying art at the Rhode Island School of Design. And, Carmen (America Ferrera) is learning about the behind-the-scenes action of theatre at Yale University. Each young woman is traversing through the ups and downs of growing up and coming to terms with the ways of the world and everyday life.
Screenwriter Elizabeth Chandler did a wonderful job with the script, although there seems to be some filler stories in the movie.
Like, when Lena meets a handsome male model named Leo (Jesse Williams) who falls for her, but her heart belongs to her ex in Greece. What happened to the “so sexy I can’t stand it” Leo? Also, Tibby is supposed to be writing a romantic screenplay for summer school. Does she ever finish it? Because certain, little plot points that seem like filler stories are moot compared to the love, laughter, joy, tears and sheer exhilaration of watching these four young women on the screen, Chandler gets a pardon.
Director Sanaa Hamri did an amazing job with the script. Many people were afraid that Hamri, a black woman, wouldn’t be able to do the movie justice. But, like Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, Hamri is just plain good at what she does, and her skin color means no never mind.
Hamri also directed the hit romantic comedy Something New with Sanaa Lathan. And, before that, she directed music videos. She’s come a long way from those days, and is doing quite well.
Ferrera, who is no Ugly Betty, is charming. Tamblyn, who looks great with the extra weight she’s gained since the last film, has vamped up her style and (dare I say) sex appeal. Lively is a little overstated as Bridget. I think she’s gotten too used to her Gossip
Girl character and doesn’t realize there’s no need to ham it up quite so much. Bledel’s angelic face, and wide-eyed, shy girl image reveal a more serious and mature side to her character. However, she’s not getting any younger and the age, which is starting to show, fits her quite nicely and makes her more of a serious actress.
Other actors of note are Blythe Danner as a sassy, stylish Grandma, and Kyle MacLachlan doing his high-strung director thing.
Costume coordinator Jessica Glenn did an awesome job with the wardrobe. I found myself waiting for each scene to see what the young women were wearing. The beautiful dresses and outfits were superb. I am a little curious, however, as to why Glenn chose to put Bledel in such beautiful and elaborate outfits for her scenes where she’s supposed to be painting. I’m not a painter, but isn’t painting kind of messy?
The summer of women empowerment began with the fantastic Sex and the City movie and is winding down with the awe-inspiring Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. I can’t wait to see what other female-centered movies Hollywood has up its sleeve.
KAliciaG@aol.com
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