Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this winning (if unsurprising) sequel is sure to appeal to teens and older tweens who are fans of both the books it's based on and the four stars, who are veterans of TV shows like Gossip Girl and Ugly Betty. That said, the characters are older now, and this film takes on more mature themes than the first movie. Some characters are sexually active: One girl loses her virginity, only to have a pregnancy scare soon after. Two underage characters drink wine in one minor scene, there are heavy discussions about suicide, and friendships are tested in sometimes painful ways. But all of these issues are relatable, and it's refreshing to see a film take them on in a straightforward manner. It's also great to see empowered, interested, caring teens make their way in the world.

Sexual Content

A 19-year-old has sex for the first time with her steady boyfriend (only the girl's bare shoulders are shown; bare chest for the guy); her boyfriend tells her the condom breaks, and she later has a pregnancy scare. Fairly passionate kissing between three other couples. References to how another supporting character got a girl pregnant. Discussions about contraception.

Violence

One character's mother committed suicide years earlier. More backbiting than actual physical fights.

Language

"Suck" and "hell" are about as bad as it gets.

Social Behavior

Miscommunication befalls couples who are clearly in love; a teen avoids the boy she loves after sex because she's confused; a father cuts off communication between his daughter and mother-in-law, an act that has helped contribute to a character's confusion about her identity. Loyal pals neglect each other, though they manage to find their way back to friendship.

Consumerism

Somewhat heavy name-dropping of colleges, including NYU, Brown, Yale, and RISD; labels for Ding Dongs and Duane Reade. Since one of the main characters works at a video store, lots of posters for movies are visible. A T-Mobile Sidekick, logo clearly displayed, is brandished often. A Nintendo DS is mentioned by name.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Two underage characters drink a bottle of wine.