The 2004 teen comedy film “Mean Girls,” starring Rachel McAdams and Lindsay Lohan, struck the pop culture scene with its impact so powerful it is still observable today, 20 years later. Not only are iconic lines like “On Wednesdays, we wear pink,” still frequently being used, but the film itself has led to several reiterations, including the 2018 Broadway musical “Mean Girls.” The musical, nominated for 12 Tony Awards, now has been developed into a film, giving birth to “Mean Girls (2024).” Starring Reneé Rapp and Angourie Rice, as well as Tina Fey and Tim Meadows as their original roles from the 2004 movie, the long-anticipated remake grossed $83 million while receiving mixed reviews.
Just like the original 2004 movie and the Broadway musical, the 2024 “Mean Girls” begins with 16-year-old Cady Heron returning to the United States from her life in Kenya and entering North Shore High School. Cady becomes friends with Janis and Damian, who catch her up on the school’s social scene. Janis and Damian warn Cady to beware of the “Plastics.” This includes Gretchen Wieners, who hides her insecurities with gossip, Karen Shetty, who is bubbly yet slow and foolish, and Regina George, the “queen bee” that everyone worships. Being the new girl at school, Cady catches Regina’s attention, and Regina eventually asks Cady to join her group. Janis, holding a grudge against Regina since their scuffle in middle school, begs Cady to join the “Plastics” to share their inside secrets with her. The plot thickens as Cady begins to scheme with Janis and Damian to bring Regina down, and develops feelings for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels.
Unlike the original 2004 film, the 2024 version of “Mean Girls” is a musical teen comedy film set in the modern social media age. It includes several musical numbers from the Broadway musical, though a few had to be cut to fit the runtime. The existence of social media adds another level of depth to the messages of the plot, with its prominence in the current day adding to the struggles and dramas of being a teenager represented by the movie. Additionally, the 2024 reboot delves deeper into the story of Janis, with a twist from the original plot. In the 2004 movie, it is said that Regina and Janis had a fallout in their friendship after Regina spread a rumor that Janis was a lesbian. Janis is extremely embarrassed and tortured by all the rumors regarding her sexuality, with the word “lesbian” approaching her as an insult. However, the Janis played by Auli’i Cravalho in the 2024 reboot is confident in identifying as queer. The plot is also changed to explain that Janis and Regina became enemies after Regina made fun of Janis for giving her a stuffed animal with a Pride pin attached in an attempt to come out to her friend.
As is for all reboots of acclaimed film pieces, criticism from fans of the original 2004 movie was unavoidable. Especially since the 2024 movie was technically based on the Broadway musical version of “Mean Girls,” not the 2004 film, those who were anticipating a remake of the movie itself expressed disappointment. The different cast and added musical numbers were certainly not welcomed by them. However, those who were fond of musicals and less attached to the original 2004 movie were pleasantly surprised, leaving positive reviews of the well-produced, entertaining film filled with strong performances and modern tweaks.
Overall, with its own unique features providing unexpected entertainment amongst the nostalgia coming from the iconic original “Mean Girls” plot, the 2024 musical teen comedy film “Mean Girls” certainly deserves a spot in your future to-watch list of films.