MEAN GIRLS Reviewed by GREG KING
Directors: Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez jr
Stars: Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp, Auli’l Cravalho, Jacquel Spivey, Avantika, Bebe Wood, Christopher Briney, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Jenna Fischer, Jon Hamm, Busy Phillips, Lindsay Lohan, Ashley Park, Mahi Alam, Connor Ratliff, Brian Altemus.
Released in cinemas to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the original Mean Girls, which is something of a cultural touchstone for Gen Z, this new version of the 2004 film is based on the 2018 Broadway musical version.
The original Mean Girls was itself based on a 2002 non-fiction book entitled Queen Bees And Wannabes, which was written by Rosalind Wiseman and explored the cruel female cliques of high school. The original film was written by Tina Fey, who has reworked her script here and updated the material with some new jokes, and it also takes into account the pervasive impact that pop culture and social media has in shaping our lives and attitudes.
The story remains essentially the same. Cady Heron (played here by Australian actress Angourie Rice, from Spiderman: Homecoming, etc) is a naive sixteen-year-old girl who has been raised in Kenya and homeschooled by her research scientist mother (Jenna Fischer). But then she is enrolled in Illinois’ North Shore High School and quickly learns that an American public high school is another dangerous jungle to negotiate with its cliques of jocks, nerds, theatre geeks and the so-called “plastics”.
Cady’s introduction to the complex intricacies of these various cliques is through cynical outsiders Janis (Auli’i Cravalho, from Moana, etc) and the very effeminate Damian (Jacquel Spivey). Janice and Damian also serve as our narrator for the story by breaking the fourth wall frequently.
Because of an old incident Janis has despised Regina George (Renee Rapp, reprising her role from the Broadway musical), the popular but arrogant leader of the plastics, and wants to bring her down along with her two loyal acolytes Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and the vapid Karen (Avantika). When Regina approaches Cady to join her group Janis encourages this, hoping to convince Cady to spy on them and work to sabotage their hateful clique and ultimately undermine their power. However, Cady falls for the handsome if dumb jock Aaron (Christopher Briney, from tv series The Summer I Turned Pretty, etc), who used to be Regina’s boyfriend, and this complicates the plan.
Cady is soon seduced by the superficial attraction of her newfound fame and coolness by a sense of belonging to the cool crowd and has soon turned against her friends, embracing her popularity. Regina’s vicious “burn book” becomes the catalyst for chaos when it is exposed. Eventually Cady takes responsibility for the damage caused by the burn book, is suspended from school for three weeks and then has to work to repair her relationship with Janis and Damian.
This new version of Mean Girls is adapted from the 2018 Broadway musical written by Tina Fey, but it retains its themes about tolerance, acceptance and diversity. Fey has updated her original script to make it more relevant to a new generation through its use of Tik Tok, smart phones and other forms of social media. Fey herself reprises her role as calculus teacher Ms Newbury, and Tim Meadows also returns in an expanded role as the hapless principal Mr Duvall. Jon Hamm contributes a brief cameo as Coach Carr, the sports teacher and sex education teacher. And there is also a brief cameo from original star Lindsay Lohan.
Mean Girls has been directed with energy by first time filmmakers Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez jr, and there are some colourful and well-choreographed dance sequences. However, as is the case with most major musical movies of late, most of the musical numbers, written by Nell Banjamin and Fey’s husband Jeff Richmond, are rather bland and forgettable. I didn’t walk out of the cinema humming any of them. For me the standout was the rousing, anthemic I’d Rather Be Me, delivered by Janis.
Rice’s portrayal of Cady seems too sweet and naive, and she somehow lacks the sassy quality and edge that Lohan brought to the role in the original. Rapp has a commanding presence and imbues her monstrous Regina with an edge, and she veers between sickly sweet and icy cold. Spivey hams it up nicely as the effeminate but gentle natured Damian. Busy Phillips is also a delight as Regina’s needy mother, obsessed with superficial beauty and her youthful looks.
This musical take on Mean Girls has plenty of energy and delivers its core message effectively. However, it remains to be seen if this new version will stand the test of time and still be warmly regarded in twenty year’s time.
★★☆
