by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
Before we begin, I must make one thing very clear. 2024’s Mean Girls is a musical. A capital M, singing, and dancing, higher-than-reality logic musical. In fact, it is based on the incredibly successful stage musical that has been running on and off Broadway for the better part of 10 years. If you are someone who does not enjoy musicals, then this is not for you — a fan of the original or not.
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s get on to the actual review.
We find ourselves with yet another 20-years-later remake of an iconic piece of media. This time, it’s one that helped define an entire generation of young people, particularly women, as they attempted to coarse through the various trials and tribulations of high school *cue dramatic music*. I am, of course, talking about Mean Girls.
This remake tells the same story as the original. It follows Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) as she moves from Kenya to start at a typical American high school, finding that it is fraught with terrors and dangers she could have never imagined.
The first couple of questions with any remake are: How does it hold up? Does it stand out, and justify its existence? Basically, did we need a 2024 Mean Girls? I think the answer for this one lies in whether you A) like musicals, and B) love the original. If one of those is a no, then I wouldn’t recommend paying money to see this. It is always tricky when a movie becomes a musical, and then goes on to become a movie musical. Many would find it redundant. I didn’t mind it one bit.
I really enjoy the original Mean Girls — as I mentioned, it defined my generation a bit. Many of the quotes are still muttered to this day, while also acting as a bit of a time capsule to the wants, needs, and fashions of the early “noughties.” However, therein also lies the rub. The original is very much a product of its time.
From the microaggressions, to the mini skirts, to the focus on weight, there is a lot that is central to the film’s plot and conflicts that don’t really fit in with a 2024 sensibility. You can tell this is a thought the filmmakers had as well, as a lot of major plot elements are smoothed over, or just full-on removed from the new one, resulting in the audience possibly muttering a bit of a bemused, “Huh?” moment from time to time. For example, the entire teacher/coach affair with students, which is treated as a comedy of errors throughout the original film, but now would certainly read as uncomfortable and potentially inappropriate, is completely missing.
Though, on this train of thought, the main element is really this idea of cliques and social hierarchy. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s been a few years since I was in high school, but even when I left, people being relegated to certain groups based on a single characteristic (drama, art, popularity, etc.) was already on its last legs. Add to that the boom of social media — especially platforms like TikTok — and it seems the more niche your interests and individual your personality, the better. Someone who likes crocheting, for example, can be friends with someone who likes sports — who would have thought? So the “Plastic” ideal just doesn’t sit as strongly when brought into the 2024 frame of view.
The cast does a pretty good job all around, with Reneé Rapp’s Regina George, as well as Auli’i Cravalho, and Jaquel Spivey’s Damian Hubbard being the definite standouts. It also helps that these three have by far the strongest voices amongst the cast, making their solo moments a pleasure to be involved in. However, it’s also because they seem to have the most handle of their characters, so that they almost feel the most revolutionized, or the most engaging at least, while the rest kind of leave you thinking, “Man, I miss the old cast.” Rice does a fine job as the lead, but again, it just doesn’t quite hit the heights that Ms. Lohan brought us in the original. The same can be said for Bebe Wood’s Gretchen and Avantika’s Karen.
All of this to say, I did enjoy myself. I love the songs from the original soundtrack, so I had fun seeing them come to life in the movie. As a massive fan of the original, I will always be down to watch the story be brought to life in any way shape or form. I also think the combination of the two genres brings enough fun that I can see myself sitting down for a rewatch when I’m in the mood for an upbeat musical. However, more often than not, I’d choose the 20-year-old version over this one.
If you find yourself wondering whether it’s worth a trip to the cinema, it’s a simple nut to crack: If you enjoy a fun, hyperrealistic interpretation of a story you know and definitely love, then go ahead — you’ll also have a great time. But if the idea of watching someone break into song every five minutes — and I do mean every five minutes — and seeing a rehash of something you’ve already seen seems as fun as getting a root canal, it’s definitely a skip.
Rating: Liked it
Mean Girls is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Alice-Ginevra Micheli, and follow her on Instagram and Letterboxd