Mean Girls Review

 

        It seems that after The Breakfast Club, each decade would have that one popular high school film that is considered the best in their decade. Such as the 90s belonging to Clueless, and the 2010s with the film Easy A. Mean Girls is the definitive high school film of the early 2000s. It showed just how toxic being a popular girl is. What makes it interesting is that it utilizes a literary device called “Defamiliarization” to show people a weird and exaggerated look of high school, albeit with a new perspective. One more thing, this film is loosely based on the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes". Add it to the list of great films based on books. 

1. Cady Herron

        Lindsay Lohan portrays the new girl Cady in her first school. It’s been established that her parents were researchers studying animals in Africa. She also narrates to the audience about attending high school and what goes on in it. I like that she’s our eyes and ears. Sort of like a nature documentary narrator who goes and documents the different animals in their biomes. In this case, junior students in high school. 

        She has a difficult time making friends, but soon is invited to hang out with two oddballs: Janis and Damian. We are then introduced to the main group of the movie, The Plastics. Janis explains who the group is to Cady and to never talk to them. For as you see, The Plastics spread gossip and rumors among the other girls, to the satisfaction of their leader Regina George. One day, the group invites Cady to sit with them. Prompting Janis to have Cady infiltrate them and to break them apart. 

        The overall film has an approach where Cady tries to break up the group, but unintentionally changing herself and becoming the new leader. This is probably the only time where we see a character completely change for the worse and have it be authentic when she acknowledges what she is doing is wrong. I have to give major props to the screenwriter Tina Fey, who acted and wrote for Saturday Night Live and creating her show 30 Rock. Only she can be that talented and portray high school as a cesspool of drama and toxicity. 

        Besides Cady being the new girl, she does fall for a guy. Here, the way the film goes about it is very nuanced. Since she likes a guy in her advanced math class, she tries to play dumb with the mistake that makes her gradually fail math. All for getting his attention. There are moments where she corrects him in her mind when he tutors her. It shows just how difficult adjusting to a new environment she’s in.

        In one way she can be innocent for the audience, but when she acts like a “Plastic” is the disheartening fact about her. She goes above and beyond to have the girls turn against Regina, even insulting and creating a rumor about her math teacher. This is the kind of arc that has an amazing depth that makes me really like the movie. What makes Cady Herron work is that she knows what she’s doing and owns it when the film progresses in the end. 

2. The Plastics or Toxic Femininity 

        This is the main highlight of the film. The group that is so toxic and hilarious that there are endless gif memes that are made about the individual members. With Regina, Gretchen, and Karen making up the group that they look down at the other girls to make themselves feel good about each other. As I mentioned before, they invite Cady to sit and eat with them. Regina is the leader and boy oh boy she’s a vindictive, well you know. 

        What’s so interesting is just how quick she is with breaking down other girls. Albeit upfront and being sly about it. When she talks to Cady, she notices her African bracelet and asks about it. While also asking questions and making Cady look dumb unintentionally. This is one talent where any girl has and is probably the most unlikeable in life. The best scene to represent them is when Cady calls Gretchen. Who calls Karen, which makes her call Regina. There is no honesty, just talking behind their back and to see it just how much awful they are. 

        There is one part that I like when Cady proceeds to usurp control of the group. That is when she talks to Regina and sees her compliment a skirt from another girl. Who without missing a beat then proceeds to tell her that the skirt looks awful. There’s even a flashback when Cady remembers her complimenting her African bracelet. It’s personal to Cady, now that she knows just who Regina really is and ruin her.

        Thinking about the film more, the overall idea is that every girl in the school is a “Mean Girl”. Or just someone who talks gossip. Including Janis who tells Cady to go into the group to get back at Regina for an old rumor from middle school. While yes, she doesn’t change throughout the film, but she couldn’t let go of the vendetta she had against Regina. Having her use the new girl was out of line to get back at her. Clearly the only good girl or woman was Ms. Norbury who figured out Cady when she noticed her failing the class. Even realizing Heron wrote the nasty rumor about her. 

3. Legacy

        This film is beloved by my generation through the constant use of the gifs to the catchphrases. It’s astounding that probably two of the main characters have an excellent career. Especially Amanda Seyfried who plays Karen appearing in a lot of great films including David Fincher’s Mank and getting nominated. As well as Rachel McAdams gaining award nominations for her appearance in Spotlight. It’s such a shame that Lindsay Lohan hasn’t appeared in anything else special. Probably due to her personal problems and appearing in B-Movie type films that usually feature in Lifetime.

        More so, I think this film should be a case study with dealing with high school girls going through the motions of toxicity. Every now and then I hear about Toxic Masculinity and I’m glad it gets attention since every guy doesn’t have to be treating anyone like a dick. With the film, I think that every girl should learn to not be vengeful or care what anyone has to say. Although, cliques will always be a part of high school. 

        One last thing, there's a sequel. I don't know why, but it's obvious it was made to ride on the popularity of the first film. Will I watch it? Nope.         

4. Overall

        Mean Girls is a great film. I still laugh at all the hilarious moments, and it has great characters to make me care about. 

        Mean Girls gets a four out of five.