Review of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) by Keenan S — 04 May 2018

I was quite shocked by how much I enjoyed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, as I didn't watch it with high expectations (It was in a 4-pack of films in which the other three were duds, so I wasn't hopeful).

In most cases, this film should have been a sappy, overbearing melodrama with dreadful, overwrought acting. Oh no. Quite the contrary with this film. The story follows four teenage girls who are about to be separated for the summer.

Before they go, they decide to stop at a vintage store and come across a mysterious pair of jeans that somehow fit all of them. So, considering this a sign of sorts, they make a pact to each wear the pants for a week and then mail them to the next friend.

It seems like a silly pact at first, but it is merely a prelude to the life-changing experiences each girl will have during their summer apart from one another. While there are parts of the film where the script stumbles (The beginning felt a bit rough), the story manages to rebound and deliver surprisingly compelling drama about friendship, love, mending relationships, and more.

It's also surprisingly well acted. Each of the leads is charming and gives it their all, making each of their story segments feel different and meaningful. It also has its moments of genuine emotion that manage to avoid the dreaded melodrama pitfall.

It's a film with a big heart and bursting with personality that mostly overrides its flaws. This was a wonderful surprise and a chick flick that I give a stamp of approval to.