Mean Girls (2004) Movie Review

We run this school because we wear pink.

Mean Girls arrived in theaters in 2004. Cady Heron has never attended public school. She joins The Plastics, an A-list girl clique at her new school. Cady is a hit until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.

After seeing the latest Mean Girls I needed to revisit the original film as a refresher. Mean Girls is the ultimate teen comedy that touched a generation. High school is a prime era. The film establishes to be yourself and make friends that are worth your time.

The cast of Mean Girls is iconic. Lindsay Lohan plays Cady Heron. Lohan’s career was rising in the early 2000s. One of the good things about re-watching the original is seeing Cady’s transition into a Plastic in a closer lens.

At the start of casting, Rachel McAdams was intended to play Cady until she was cast as the now iconic Regina George. Regina is a manipulative person who makes others suffer. McAdams is terrific, having a ball in the role. She gave Regina depth. My favorite scene is when Regina finds out a secret and screams for one full minute.

This was Amanda Seyfried’s film debut as the dimwitted Karen Smith. As Regina’s other henchwoman, Lacey Chabert is as unforgettable as Gretchen Weiners. Their performances are so fetch! The Plastics make their own rules, including wearing pink on Wednesdays. Trust me, you don’t want to get put in the burn book.

The supporting actors are outstanding in their roles. There’s no such thing as a small role. Starring as Mrs. Norbury, Mean Girls was Tina Fey’s screenwriting debut. Mr. Duvall's (Tim Meadows) deflated reaction to handling the girl’s chaotic drama is memorable.

Lizzy Caplan deserves way more praise for her role as Janice Ian. Daniel Franzese is funny as Damien. The casting department searched through four cities for the right actor to play him. More credits include Jonathan Bennett, Amy Poehler, Ana Gasteyer, Neil Flynn, and Rajiv Surendra.

Mean Girls is a raunchy comedy. The comedy is what the film is well-known for. The comedy in Mean Girls is essential because it serves as a vehicle for exploring deeper themes. Given some of the jokes have not aged well, It uses humor to dissect the absurdity of high school social structures.

Mark Waters had to fight for a PG-13 rating along with the distribution of scenes by the sensors. Waters' direction is key to the film's success, as he skillfully balances the humorous elements with insightful social commentary. The pacing is tight, and Waters navigates the tonal shifts inviting reflection on the nature of teenage relationships and societal expectations.

Even the quotes have gained a title of their own. Fey was the first person to claim the word ‘fetch.’ It was invented just for this film. And October 3rd has officially been named ‘National Mean Girls Day.’

The film uses every cliche in the high school yearbook which makes it funny. The humor is over-the-top for a reason. It’s a simple premise, but it’s more than that. There’s one deleted scene that shouldn’t have been cut which resolves two characters' stories.

High school is the most relatable time in anyone’s life. With all the cliques or clubs, remember to always be yourself. Most importantly, don’t get involved with all the gossip. That’s the moral of Mean Girls.

With the new Mean Girls out right now new audiences should watch the original film first. It’s a fun movie to watch with your friends.