Give me cheesy, campy, predictable and trite any day. It’s my cinematic bread and butter.

That said, I loved every minute of “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.” Which means it was probably a bad film.

Here’s what you get: “Sex and the City,” after you siphon out the sex, tone down the puns and add unwarranted significance to a pair of thrift-store jeans.

The characters are as distressed as the title denim in this sequel to the 2005 coming-of-age flick based on Ann Brashares’ best-selling series.

The story picks up a year after high school graduation, as artsy smartass Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), free-spirited Bridget (Blake Lively), self-conscious Carmen (America Ferrera) and charmingly naïve Lena (Alexis Bledel) spend the summer in different destinations, from where they share equal custody of the pants.

Tibby, struggling in her studies at NYU, hangs back in the Big Apple to make up a course. Carmen, feeling edged out by big changes in her home life, heads to Vermont for a drama camp. Lena, coping with heartbreak, immerses herself in art school in Rhode Island. And Bridget takes off to Turkey on an archeological retreat (ran-dom!).

Each character’s personal obstacles strain the friendship. But the girls inevitably learn that growing up doesn’t mean giving up the people and things that matter most.

Essentially, “Sisterhood” is four movies in one. Great for its target audience of tweeners. Bad for anyone who wants to ascertain a character arc or solid plot construction.

To give each character equal playing time is overambitious, and as a result, some of the narrative falls flat.

But who cares? The movie is supposed to be fun, and it is.

‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2’ PG-13, 1 hr., 57 min.

Starring: Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively and Amber Tamblyn

Plot: The friendship of four young women is tested as they navigate college and relationships.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Inkkc.com: Find show times on inkkc.com/ movies, where you can also rate and review “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.”

This review makes me want to see it.

Posted 152 days ago by kcmelissa