Friday, Aug. 15, 2008

Sisterhood gives pants another try

I realize that I’m not the target audience for this film. I realize that when director Sanaa Hamri, screenwriter Elizabeth Chandler and the four female leads decided to create a sequel to the cult teen hit based on the popular young adult chick-lit series, the last demographic they had in mind was the geeky, teenage male who wonders how often he can re-watch "The Dark Knight" before it officially becomes an obsession. They probably assumed we would all be watching "Pineapple Express." (Which I totally did.)

Well, whether they want me or not, they have me. I was a fan of the first film, even though some of its themes were as alien to me as Sanskrit. (Why are they trying on pants together?) I’d even go so far as to say that I was kind of excited for part two of the "Traveling Pants" saga, if only because I was interested to see how the girls’ onscreen chemistry would work now that two of them (Blake Lively and America Ferrera are the stars of popular TV shows) are noticeably more famous than the other two. (Both Alexis Bledel’s and Amber Tamblyn’s TV shows are now off the air and they haven’t been getting much work since then.) Thankfully, the gals are just as effortlessly chummy as always, even though they have less screen time together than I would’ve liked. (That’s right; I actually came in with expectations.) Mostly they find themselves learning and growing all by their lonesome.

Shy Lena (Bledel) is going to art school and trying to get over her Greek ex-boyfriend Kostos (Michael Rady, whom according to imdb.com enjoys gardening and surfing.) Rebellious Tibby (Tamblyn) is living the life of a hipster film school student at New York University and is having boy trouble of her own after deciding to finally sleep with her goofy squeeze, Brian. (Leonardo Yam.) Studious Carmen (Ferrera) is going to theater camp in Vermont, where she falls for a long-haired Brit named Ian (Tom Wisdom, aka, the guy that got his head lopped off in "300.") And statuesque Bridget (Lively) ironically, is the only member of the Sisterhood that doesn’t get a beau, but instead goes on an odyssey to find her estranged grandmother (the always pleasant Blythe Danner.) But of course, these friends can only be apart for so long before they must reunite to help each other through tough times and life lessons.

Even though I was one of four guys in the theater (and the only one of those four who wasn’t there with a girlfriend, sad face.) I’d be lying if I said the film wasn’t enjoyable.

Tamblyn has great comedic timing and I wished she got more parts in big movies that aren’t called "The Grudge 2." And Ferrera once again proves she has the makings of leading lady. For me, the idea of a Hispanic woman being able to star in movies without supermodel good looks (although she is fetching) is terribly exciting. But at the end of the day, you’ve already decided whether or not you’re going to see this movie.

Nothing I say is going to change your mind. All I can say is that for those of you going, you’ll have a good time. For those who aren’t going, I’m sure you can live with it.

— Nick Jimenez, 16, will be a junior at Legacy High School.