The Plastics are back in the newest iteration of “Mean Girls,” leaving fans eager to see Regina George “watch the world burn.”
The film introduces Cady Heron (Angourie Rice), a smart yet reserved teenager who is transitioning from being homeschooled in Kenya to becoming a student at North Shore High School in Illinois. During a tough first day, she meets Janis (Auli’I Cravalho) and Damien (Jaquel Spivey), two best friends who befriend Cady and show her the ropes.
North Shore High School’s cliques are similar to those of many American high schools, consisting of jocks, nerds, artists and popular kids. The Plastics, however, introduce a whole new level of mean girls.
The Plastics are North Shore royalty. Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika Vandanapu) are led by Regina George (Reneé Rapp), who despite her conniving, evil personality is an icon who everyone wants to befriend. Together, the three girls run the school.
After a powerful musical number introducing Regina to the audience, Cady is invited to sit with the Plastics at lunch. Cady is informed of the rules she must follow, revisiting one of the iconic lines of the original film: “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.” Cady is encouraged to take the group up on their offer by Janis, who has a tumultuous history with Regina.
At a disastrous Halloween party, Regina kisses Cady’s crush, Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney). Cady, Janis and Damien then plot to ruin Regina’s life.
Throughout the film, the plan to destroy Regina’s reputation and self-confidence is successful, but in the struggle for power, Cady loses herself in popularity, ultimately becoming a second Regina.
The film follows an almost identical structure as the original “Mean Girls” released in 2004. Both the 2004 version and the 2024 version were written by Tina Fey, who reprises her role as Ms. Norbury in the movie-musical.
In addition to the original storyline, the 2024 release incorporates musical numbers from Broadway’s “Mean Girls” production, also written by Fey.
Vocal powerhouse Rapp played Regina in the Broadway production from 2019-2020. Her remarkable Broadway rendition of the song “World Burn” circulated on social media, generating buzz from an audience eager to hear the studio version in the film.
The recordings of “Someone Gets Hurt” and “World Burn” that are featured in the film contribute heavily to Regina’s intimidating nature, as Rapp’s powerful voice proves her as a force to be reckoned with.
Her impressive vocal performance is not where Rapp’s talent stops. Rapp commands the audience with her depiction of the queen bee, using facial expressions and tone of voice to convey Regina’s vindictive personality.
In an interview with Screenrant, Fey said, “[Rapp’s] face is so stunning, and also she’s so intimidating when she needs to be. I think she’s built for the screen. She just is so powerful. At the same time, she has the legit vocal and movement skills of a Broadway star. So you’re really just getting the best of everything.”
The large personalities of Janis and Damien, depicted respectively by Cravalho and Spivey also shined on screen. Their mannerisms and delivery of lines, as well as stellar performances in songs like “A Cautionary Tale” and “Revenge Party,” created characters that the audience could rely on for comedic relief and important advice.
It can be intimidating starring in a remake of a cult classic, but this star-studded cast rose to the challenge and successfully reincarnated the beloved characters.
Another difficulty in remakes is modernizing the original movie to connect with viewers from the newer generations.
The use of apps like TikTok and Instagram are a beneficial addition, as Cady’s growth in popularity was displayed in a way that is realistic for a high school’s social environment today.
However, one of the few downsides of this film is how heavy the reliance on these apps was. Throughout the film, there were times where social media montages lasted for multiple minutes, interrupting the story and providing little payoff.
Other aspects of the film make up for the lack of perfection in the modernization department. One area that stands out is the lighting. Scenes focused on anger or intimidation used dark or red lighting, joyous scenes used bright lights and ominous scenes used blue lighting. This strategic use of lighting is impactful for viewers to deeply feel the intended emotion.
In addition to the lighting, the set design is impeccable and closely resembles modern high school classrooms, bedrooms and parties.
The memorable performances, both vocal and acting, combined with the famous plot and beautiful visuals creates a film that is entertaining for all ages.
Don’t miss the chance to see the most fetch movie of the year, “Mean Girls,” in theaters.
