FedEx’s favourite pair of jeans is back on screen, travelling between the U.S. and Europe and hugging the curves of the same four best friends introduced in the 2005 coming-of-age chick flick, adapted from Ann Brashares’ best-selling novel.

This time around, the girls have just finished their first year of college and are off to separate summer destinations, where they each overcome a self-defining problem. Always the girl on the sidelines, Carmen (America Ferrera) takes her turn in the spotlight; Bridget (Blake Lively) deals with her mother’s death; Lena (Alexis Bledel) faces heartbreak and finds a new, scantily clad crush; and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) learns she is worthy of love. Sigh, tear — if you are a 15-year-old girl about to get a pink retainer with sparkles. Gag, snooze if you are anyone else.
The plot is a slightly grown-up version of the original, sprinkled with few surprises, cute moments and a lot of cheese. But unlike the magical-fitting dungarees in the movie — the obvious symbol of the girls’ bond — these Traveling Pants feel destined for the scrap pile.