Mean Girls gets a fresh makeover in its 2024 iteration, stemming from the 2017 Broadway musical, which, in turn, took inspiration from Tina Fey’s 2004 screenplay. Despite its seemingly glittery baggage, the new Mean Girls swiftly invites both newcomers and loyal fans into a whimsical journey filled with inside jokes. In the two decades since Regina George and the Plastics ruled North Shore High, a myriad of changes has unfolded. Smartphones are now a necessity among teenagers, and social media has become the contemporary realm for slaying, shaming, and gossip. The Internet itself serves as an expansive Burn Book. Mean Girls 2024 affirms that certain elements remain: cliques persist, drama unfolds, mathletes continue to rap about calculus, school buses pose a hazard, and high school remains a sociological jungle with its pecking orders and food chains.
Mean Girls 2024 storyline revolves around Cady Heron, portrayed by Australian Angourie Rice, as she navigates the complex realm of high school, morality, and the infamous Plastics. Tina Fey’s updated screenplay introduces a musical adaptation framed through mobile phones and TikTok, featuring a culturally diverse cast and a sprinkle of era-specific changes.
While the film retains some classic elements, it lacks the bite of its predecessor. The overabundance of nostalgia, including cameos and references, doesn’t let the movie stand alone in its own right, making it somewhat dependent on prior knowledge. The musical tunes effectively set the scene and reveal the characters’ inner thoughts, though only a handful stand out.
The once-terrifying Plastics now appear tame in comparison, and Regina, played by Reneé Rapp, exudes more swagger than malice. In 2019, Reneé Rapp took over the role of Regina George on Broadway, and eventually left the production for mental-health reasons. She’s returned for the film version, and from the moment her Regina swaggers into the school lunchroom, the actor owns this film. Another stand out is the ever exuberant Angourie Rice, who is simply amazing in everything she does, and doesn’t let viewers down in this film either. She’s simply magnetic when ever she’s on screen. Honorable mentions to the other supporting cast members in Avantika and Bebe Wood who are also fantastic in this.
The letdowns in this movie though lay in Cady’s character, whose transition from loser to queen bee lacks conviction. The updated Burn Book loses its bite, and the film shies away from exploring darker themes present in the original. Despite attempts at inclusivity, Mean Girls sacrifices grit and dark comedy for a more sanitized version of teenage drama, missing the mark set by its predecessor.
While still an enjoyable watch, the Mean Girls doesn’t quite capture the same essence as the iconic original. The film’s attempt to reflect the current world falls short, presenting a less edgy portrayal of teenage dynamics. As Mean Girls embraces inclusivity, it loses some of the grit and dark humor that defined its earlier version, leaving viewers with a joyous but slightly less impactful trip down memory lane.
Neill Frazer
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