The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is potentially soupy, sentimental stuff, but, for the most part, director Ken Kwapis and screenwriters Delia Ephron and Elizabeth Chandler (who adapted Ann Brashares' novel) keep things tart, dry-eyed and briskly moving. John Bailey's lovely cinematography is alive to the beauties of the different settings, be it a leafy Southern suburb, a Baja beach, or the unearthly white and azure paradise of Santorini.
The girls are, thankfully, not bimbos, all attractive in their individual ways, and convincing as best friends. Ferrera is the most appealing cast member, with the strongest storyline. Obviously the most weight-challenged of the girls, she carries herself with the same handsome dignity she evinced in Real Women Have Curves, her eyes ever sparkling with irrepressible life. Boyd is very good, too. In a role that could have been a minefield of weepiness, she has an appealing feistiness and slightly uncanny child-woman quality that evokes a miniature Kyra Sedgwick. Tamblyn, as the group rebel, has a nice wryness and a fleeting resemblance to her dancing dad, Russ Tamblyn. Pretty Bledel shows some daffy comedic skill, and statuesque Lively, in her film debut, does well in the most sketchily conceived part.The requisite pubescent beefcake is provided by Rady and Vogel, who provide enough non-threatening, manly pulchritude to make them instant favorites with young female and gay viewers.
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