Yes, school can be hard. Especially when you’re in the right place at the wrong time, and vice versa. It’s even worse if you belong to the wrong clique and then must deal with Mean Girls.
TINA FEY
Anyone who knows anything about films has heard the name before. The Mean Girls appeared back in 2004. And back then, too, the screenplay was written by Tina Fey. If you don’t know Tina; she is called the funniest woman in the free world, and that suits her perfectly. Because Tina Fey has played a key role in shaping the cult show Saturday Night Live since 1997.
Then, in 2004, she wrote the script for Mean Girls and appeared in the film alongside Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried. And, déjà vu, this time too, 20 years later, she is playing the role of math teacher Ms. Norbury again.
THE MEAN GIRLS STORY
CADY HERON
Cady Heron spent her childhood in Kenya, where she was homeschooled by her mother. Now it’s back to the States, to North Shore High School. Things immediately get complicated here, because Cady must choose one of the many cliques that have grouped here. Among them are the Burnouts, Sexually Active Band Geeks, Desperate Wannabes, The Art Freaks, Asian Nerds, and the Actual Human Beings.
Cady’s favorite subject is math. And that quickly becomes a problem too. Because in Ms. Norbury’s math class (calculus class), Cady falls in love with her classmate Aaron (Christopher Briney). That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t Queen Bee Regina’s ex-boyfriend.
REGINA GEORGE
Regina is the leader of the Plastics, and they top the rankings of the North Shore High School cliques. Regina is sexy, pretty, and rich. Thus, she has as many fans as envious people. But no matter who, she can win over almost all students and teachers thanks to her strong personality and manipulation. Hence, she takes Cady under her wing before she ends up with another clique.
JANIS a.k.a. ‘IMI’IKE AND DAMIAN
The young artist Janis and her gay friend Damian also look after Cady from the very first moment. So, they help her to cope with the chaos of school. Janis also likes the fact that Cady gets along so well with the Plastics. Because she still has a score to settle with Regina.
And so, it happens as it must happen. Cady gets caught up in a web of intrigue and meanness. In doing so, she almost loses sight of her values and control over herself as well.
THE MEAN GIRLS STARS
ANGOURIE RICE (CADY HERON)
Cady is played by the lovely Australian Angourie Isabelle Theresa Rice. She made her debut in the Australian sci-fi thriller These Final Hours in 2013 when she was just 12 years old.
However, she received international attention when screen giants Russel Crow (also Australian but born in New Zealand) and Ryan Gosling were overshadowed by Angourie’s disarming charm and radiance in the 2016 crime comedy The Nice Guys. If you don’t know the film… it’s an absolute must-see. We also got to see Angourie in the Spider-Man films as Betty Brant.
RENEÉ RAPP (REGINA GEORGE)
Like her male counterpart Glen Powell (see Anyone but You Review), Reneé is the embodiment of the American cheerleader and prom queen, who doesn’t take herself seriously at all. Reneé is beautiful and very sexy, yet she can also laugh at herself. And she is much more than that. Reneé is a true all-rounder. Since 2019 she has been on stage on New York’s Broadway in the musical of the same name, Mean Girls.
Hence, she wasn’t only able to gain many years of experience in the role of Regina George, but she also gained many song ideas for the film. Therefore, she contributed several songs to the Mean Girls soundtrack. So, Reneé is also a singer/songwriter. In 2022 she released her debut EP “Everything to Everyone”, which was followed by her first full-length studio album Snow Angel in 2023.
AULIʻI CRAVALHO (JANIS)
However, Auli’i is the real star of the film. You know her voice from the beautiful Disney film MOANA (VAIANA), with which she began her career. The pretty Hawaiian has a unique, warm charisma. There’s something in her voice that releases an incredible amount of emotion if we just open to this.
In Mean Girls, she plays the teenager Janis, whose coming out leads to problems in an actually open-minded time. Auli’i also takes us through the story of the film again and again. In Mean Girls, she shows the next step in her development. And it’s huge. If you’re lucky enough to be in New York, you can see her live in Children of Eden in the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. It’s very worth it.
MEAN GIRLS REVIEW
Let’s first ask ourselves whether it makes sense to produce an already successful film again after exactly 20 years. Of course, the lifestyle has changed and something else. 20 years ago, there were neither smartphones nor social media.
Today, the anonymity of so-called social media makes it easy for people to gossip about others and trash them. Hate speech, bullying, and much more have increased significantly in recent years. Many people, especially young ones must go to therapy, sometimes on an inpatient basis, to get their fears under control, which arose from the pressure and the risk of discrediting on the Internet.
FUN WITH A DEEPER MESSAGE
So, yes, it makes sense to update a story like this for today. Especially with a cast like this. Because the actors really play at a high level. They don’t just guide us through the story with cool songs. Rather, they are trying to send a message.
Don’t conform, stay true to yourself. Be honest with yourself and with everyone else. Don’t follow people who want to influence you but find your own way.
GOOD VIBES
A light college comedy can also have real depth. Especially when Tina Fey has a hand in it. Because she is an incredibly exceptional talent when it comes to modern comedy. Right down to the entrance scene in the gym, which is just ultra funny.
So, if you’ve had enough of all the bad news or have even had negative experiences with the Internet, Mean Girls is a film that gives us a good feeling as well as the strength to believe in ourselves and go our own way, instead of conforming and following strangers.
Of course, you can also just switch off and watch Mean Girls as a pure musical comedy. Even then the film is fun. Therefore, we give it 7.5 points and a thumbs up.
Text, Editing (Photos/Videos): Marco Kokkot
Pictures Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
