Originally gracing our screens in 2004, the seminal Mean Girls movie emerged as a cultural touchstone, capturing the essence of the early 2000s through its endlessly quotable lines and resonant exploration of millennial teenage angst. Penned by the comedic genius Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live) and featuring the talents of a youthful Lindsay Lohan (The Parent Trap), the film artfully depicted high school as a tumultuous battleground defined by archetypal cliques.
Fast forward to 2018, and Tina Fey’s original screenplay underwent a theatrical transformation, landing on Broadway as the dazzling Mean Girls: The Musical. However, this triumphant debut was abruptly halted by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, bringing the curtains down on its promising run.
Now, the narrative takes an intriguing turn with the latest iteration of Fey’s beloved tale. This fresh adaptation not only draws inspiration from the original screenplay but also enlists several stars from the acclaimed musical to breathe new life into the iconic characters.
Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. in their feature directorial debuts, the film is set set against the backdrop of North Shore High School. It follows the journey of home-schooled Cady Heron (Angourie Rice, impressive) as she makes the transition from the African jungle where she was brought up by her scientist mother, to a modern American High School where status is everything.
First befriended by Damien (Jaquel Spivey) and Janice (Auli’i Cravalho), a dynamic queer duo who offer to guide her through her through her new surroundings, Cady is later seduced by the “plastics” , a trio of shallow mean girls headed by the beautiful, but deeply cruel Regina George (Reneé Rapp, magnificent). As she sinks deeper into her new persona and status, Cady is soon forced to face her own prejudices when her new friendships threaten to derail her studies and standing with her friends.
Mean Girls 2024 effectively blends the charm of a beloved teen comedy with the dynamic energy of a musical, providing an entertaining experience that caters to fans of the original film and the Broadway adaptation. While nowhere near as fresh or as authentic as the much loved 2004 original, the film skilfully incorporates themes from Rosalind Wiseman’s “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” presenting a contemporary exploration of the challenges confronting today’s youth.
While the film does offer its fair share of humor and entertainment, it’s somewhat disconcerting to see the production occasionally relying on cheap TikTok trends and influencer cameos that feel both cringe-inducing and wholly unnecessary.
While the musical numbers fail to leave a lasting impression, this latest interpretation of the cherished story still stands out as a highly entertaining experience. It is regrettable, however, that the production did not make more concerted efforts in incorporating Lindsay Lohan into the fabric of the narrative – Lohan’s presence is limited to a somewhat awkward and belated cameo toward the end of the film.
