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Review: Mean Girls (2024)
Mean Girls (2024), the no-so secret musical reboot of the original Mean Girls was so. Freaking. Fun. I don't know if I was expecting it to blow me away, and I wouldn't say it necessarily did, but it was definitely a great experience. It was light, smart, genuinely knee-slap level funny at some parts and the music was really enjoyable!
Standouts for me right off the bat was Reneé Rapp's performance as Regina George. As a fan of Sex Lives of College Girls, I am, as the kiddos would say, familiar with Reneé's game. But her performance in Mean Girls was even better than any of her previous roles in my option. I can see why the movie was marketed around her because she has such an incredible star-quality when she's on screen. Furthermore, I'm not even sure if this is a good thing or bad, but it's so hard to hate her! Despite being the movie's villain, I was never anything but delighted when she was on screen. And her singing voice is incredible of course and her solo song was my favorite one in the entire movie.
Of course, given Renee's star shining so bright, perhaps it's not as surprising that Cady herself and the actress who plays her, somehow didn't seem like the star of the show. She definitely didn't have the same wow factor as Lindsay Lohan, but I wonder if this was on purpose - after all, all the promotional materials gestured Regina as being the lead, which I thought was an interesting choice. Now seeing the movie, it makes more sense.
Other fantastic performances include Avantika in the role of Karen. This girl is so, so funny you guys. Her comedic timing along physical comedy given the hilarious lines she had made for a show-stealing performance. It's so amazing seeing a young South Asian actress getting her flowers and I hope this opens up lots of opportunities for her.
Other shoutouts include PAM FROM THE OFFICE!!! The casting department truly earned their paycheque that week casting her as Cady's mom because they look identical. Damien's actor also killed, so did aulii cabvello (of Moana fame), the math nerd unexpectly delighted me and basically the entire cast and don't think I've forgotten Tina Fey, who so generously graced us with her presence.
If I had any criticisms for this movie I would have to say that overall the soundtrack is not strong. It's enough for me to bop my head and have a good time but when you compare it to other musical movies like the Greatest Showman or La La Land, it simply doesn't match up. But I would say great music wasn't even necessary to make it a great movie, but rather it added to it. I also do wonder if a lot of the fun I had comes from knowing the original mean girls, and being delighted and the ways they have updated it for modern times and the references they made. I wonder if it could stand on its own two legs without the original, which I suspect it could, but that thought still keeps me from giving this movie a perfect score.
Overall, such a fetch time, off to throw my own revenge party but before I do, I'm dropping four out of five stars.
