Mean Girls (2024)

I go to the movies with an open mind, but I must admit that my expectations for the new Mean Girls movie were pretty low, simply because I admired the first one so much that I didn’t think this remake could live up to it.

However, it turned out to be a lot of (zany) fun. First of all, it’s a musical, a fact that was hidden in the trailers, even though it probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has seen the stage production, on which it is based.

Not all the songs, by composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin, are instant classics, but they get the job done. There is one in particular, Apex Predator, that I think is a campy standout.

The storyline basically follows that of the first movie, even though the musical numbers take up a fair amount of time, so some of the subplots from the first movie - like the one where one of the supporting characters applies for a job at ESPN - got cut. 

On the other hand, this time around another of the supporting characters is allowed to come out as a lesbian towards the end of the movie. And I consider that progress. 

One aspect that may be more divisive, is that there’s a lot more use of various social media in this one. But even though that may put some people off, at least makes this movie more of the moment and recognizable as its own thing. 

For those who need a recap: Mean Girls is (and always will be) about Cady Heron (Angourie Rice), who after a stint in Africa goes to a new school in the US. 

At her new high school, she is welcomed into an elite group of popular girls called The Plastics, ruled by Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her supposed BFF’s Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). 

However, when Cady makes the mistake of falling in love Regina's ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she will have to overcome Regina's wrath and find her true self slash what she is really made of.

Rapp (reprising her stage role) is excellent as Regina - the Queen Bee played by Rachel McAdams in the original movie. Rice, as Cady Heron, is an adequate replacement of Lindsay Lohan, who makes a cameo appearance as a Mathletics juror.

Tina Fey, who wrote the script, does return as Ms. Norbury, while Auli’i Cravalho (as Janis) and Jaquel Spivey (as Damian) are best in class as Cady’s outcast friends. 

Directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr bring enough energy to proceedings to liven up what could have been as forgettable sequel as the tv-movie from 2011 that nobody remembers. 

Mean Girls was originally supposed to go to Paramount+ but a 30 million dollar opening weekend proves that it was wise to go the theatrical route first.

It’s unlikely that Mean Girls 2024 will become a classic comedy like the first one, but you never know. I give it a 7 out 10 and if you want to you can check it out in theaters yourself.