Movie Review: Mean Girls (2004)
Penned by SNL’s Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, Mean Girls is an observant and smartly film masquerading as a generic teen comedy. The film nailed the constant desire most high school kids have to be cool, popular and well-liked by their peers as well as the mind games, backstabbing and phoniness of teenage life. It may have been exaggerated for effect but at the end of the day, the movie hits dangerously close to the truth as every high school in America has its own set of cliques, nerds, geeks, sports jocks and yes, mean girls.
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) has been home schooled all her life and never been exposed to school culture until she sets foot in North Shore High School as a wide-eyed 16-yr old student from Africa. She quickly befriends two misfits, Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and “almost too gay to function” Damian (Daniel Franzese) who tell her everything about the inner-workings of the school which is ruled by a trio of wealthy and intimidating bitches forming “The Plastics”. At the top of the popularity structure is queen bee Regina George (Rachel McAdams) and sycophants Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried) who take an immediate interest in the new pretty girl from Africa to bolster their ranks. At the urging of Janis, Cady infiltrate the Plastics to sabotage and eventually destroy them from within. She feeds Regina weight-gaining protein bars, replaces her facial cream with foot lotion and turns her friends against her. Unfortunately, our hero soon starts to enjoy the lifestyle of the popular crowd and the more she becomes one of them, the less likable she becomes to her friends and family.
Mean Girls may read like a generic teen comedy but it differentiates itself from the pack because it is not directed as much toward teens than it is to adults. Fey knows that real laughs come from dialogue-based humor, not cheap physical comedy. Combining light and dark comedy, the script is satiric, smart and funny, never surrendering to corny sentimentality or idiotic slapstick comedy. In an era where most comedies barely manage to extract a few chuckles and laughs, this film is consistently laugh-out-loud funny. On two brilliant occasions, we see Cady comparing the dynamics of teen relationship with monkeys of the African jungle, demonstrating insightful penmanship from Tina Fey. Not only do we get further understanding of the main character but it is intelligently incorporated in hilarious set-pieces. Even though Cady realizes she is becoming a person she despises, she is powerless to do anything about it and this is how Fey keeps the viewer’s sympathy for the main character. Mean Girls is not perfect. It runs out of steam toward the end and could have been meaner instead of tying everything up neatly at the finish line. However, the direction by Mark Waters (Freaky Friday) drives the movie moving forward at a nice clip and hence, it becomes acceptable to slow down the action at the end so we can see Cady’s maturation as a person.
The entire cast is terrific from top to bottom. Top-billed 17-yr old Lindsay Lohan was perfectly cast as Cady, our meek hero-turned-manipulative-vixen. At the time, the rising Lohan was primed to become the next big Hollywood leading star as she had this every-girl appeal and charm that innately focused sympathy towards her character. Here, she initially plays insecure and clumsy and showed some promising acting chops transitioning between the different stages her character goes through. It’s interesting to note that Lohan was originally slated to play Regina George while newcomer Amanda Seyfried would have played Cady. Amusingly (in retrospect), Lohan did not want a bitchy character to be associated with her persona and it was decided that “only nice girls can play mean girls,” paving the way for Rachel McAdams’ ingenious performance as alpha bitch Regina George. With a delicious lack of subconscious vanity, she nails what could have been a one-dimensional caricature, creating a glamorously Machiavellian character in a star-making turn.
“MOTHERFUCKER!”
In supporting roles, Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried hit the right notes as Regina’s clueless lieutenants while Lizzie Caplan is solid as Janis. SNL’s own Tim Meadows plays the over-matched school principal Duvall and Amy Poehler is cast as Regina’s mom, a woman so desperate to feel young again that she dresses and acts like a teenager and lets Regina walk all over her. Tina Fey gives herself a role as Ms. Norbury, Cady’s lonely math teacher who tries to nudge her in the right direction. Truly, everyone with a line in the movie got to shine and that demonstrates great writing and a brilliant sense of comedic timing. The cinematography by Daryn Okada is heavily reliant on vibrant and warm colors while the soundtrack is full of 80′s songs.
Tina Fey’s clever and satirical script as well as terrific performances from the cast elevate Mean Girls above and beyond the pack of standard teen comedies. Highly quotable and laugh-out-loud funny, it would not be surprising if a decade from now, we look back at this acutely incisive flick with a hint of nostalgia, alongside the likes of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club or Heathers.
A-
Lessons of the Day:
- “At your age, you’re going to have a lot of urges. You’re going to want to take off your clothes, and touch each other. But if you do touch each other, you *will* get chlamydia… and die.”
- “Everyone in Africa knows Swedish”
- “If you’re from Africa, why are you white?”
- “One time, she punched me in the face. It was AWESOME.”
Notes: Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and some teen partying, 97 minutes. Produced by Jennifer Guinier, Jill Sobel Messick, Lorne Michaels, Louise Rosner and Tony Shimkin, cinematography by Daryn Okada.
36 Comments
Love Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried, and Rachel McAdams, and they were quite awesome in this movie. Lizzy Caplan always gets respect for the combo of Cloverfield and True Blood. Also the all to short lived show, The Class.
As for this movie, I enjoyed it, but didn’t quite love it. Mostly because lots of the humor just inspired a chuckle or two, but not a big laugh at any point.
I used to have such a crush on Lohan…and now that she’s coked out and 35 pounds I have a Lohan fetish.
I <3 this movie. Closest thing to a guilty pleasure I have, but I don't really feel guilty about it.
Great review!
Yea, there is no reason to feel guilty about enjoying this movie, it’s a good one! Now, a train wreck like Deuce Bigalow would be something else
I remember watching this when I was 11 and being scared shit of middle school, which was like high school to my naive mind.
I don’t like Lohan in it, though. I never really buy her as either bitchy or nice.
For Shame, Ripley, for Shame. Lindsay Lohan rocks…
Let’s see what Machete brings. Let’s just see…
I can definitely tell you that we will be nostalgic about this movie in later decades. My friends quote it all the time, a testament to Tina Fey’s ability to create those great one-liners.
“SHE DOESN’T EVEN GO HERE!”
“Two for you, Glen Coco. You go, Glen Coco!”
“Boo, you whore!”
This movie is hand-down the most quoted in my circle of friends….”That’s why her hair is so big, it’s full of secrets!” And I wholeheartedly agree with Marshall that we will be nostalgic about it in later decades. Loved your review.
I agree Marshall, Jennifer. It’s a classic in my book
The amount of funny one-liners and hilarious comedic moment is astonishing.
Mr. Duvall: Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that we have a new student joining us. She just moved here all the way from Africa.
Ms. Norbury: [to black Michigan girl] Welcome!
Michigan Girl: [offended] I’m from Michigan!
“I hear she does car commercials… in Japan.”
“I’m sorry I called you a gap-toothed bitch. It’s not your fault you’re so gap-toothed.”
“I gave him everything… I was half a virgin when I met him! ”
“I like *invented* her, you know what I mean?”
“Your face smells like peppermint!”
Thanks for dropping by Jennifer and welcome!
The last really good teen movie I can remember seeing (I flat out REFUSE to ever accept Juno on any merit, whatsoever). Easy A, the new Emma Stone movie, has the potential to hit Mean Girls-level, but it’ll probably peter out.
Loved, loved this film and I agree it was brilliantly cast. Love the quotes you included too.
I also like, “I’m sorry that people are so jealous of me… but I can’t help it that I’m so popular.” It really is something that a teenage kid would say.
anyone who thinks they dont like teen movies should watch this
absolutely brilliant
Reluctant to see this in the first place I didn’t plan on enjoying it even a little, let alone a lot. You are spot on about the one liners, but even with some of the gimmicky stuff on the outside the way the film takes stabs at itself is incredible. It really is a testament to the writing, and certainly the actresses. There are layers of goodness to this movie that are only enhanced by repeat viewings.
I have to admit I didn’t think all that much from Mean Girls the first time I saw it. I thought it was good but not great. However, multiple viewings over the years just made it better and better. The sign of a finely written and layered movie!
Exactly. I remember not quite understanding what I had just seen after watching American Beauty. And even today, each time I watch it I gather something new and something fresh from it. Whether a movie makes you laugh or enlightens you, that is a sure sign of genius writing.
Great film! Mean Girls was a nice refreshing take on high school. I still have hope that Lohan will bring her career back. Possibly hey role in Machete will bring some people back over to her side.
I’m indifferent to Lohan but Machete looks absolutely awesome!
This film used to be considered a guilty pleasure, but recently its just fallen into a film that people, guys and girls, say is great, and an instantly quotable film. Nice Review!
This and The Devil Wears Prada are guilty pleasures on lazy Sundays.
And 13 Going on 30.
Have I compromised my macho image?
Nah, I never had a macho image.
Anything by Nancy Meyers/Nora Ephron always gets me. Just easy-going, fun movies.
There’s a 100% chance … that it’s already raining.
I love this movie. Anytime it is on TV, I can’t help but watch however much of it is left.
Lizzy Caplan in this movie helped my friends and I discover the “weird hot” phenomenon in the spectrum of sexy females. Nowadays, though, she is just plain hot after seeing her in “True Blood” and “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
Well, Castor you know I love this movie and everything about it (it is in my top 100 of all time). What’s not to love? Humour, faux teenage angst, Lindsay Lohan in her prime…in more ways than one (grins). There are soooooooo many quotable quotes, it’s so light and yet still manages to be profound and it is just so funny. All I can say is that, it is so fetch.
Stop trying to make Fetch happen!
I need to watch this NOW!!! I’ve been putting it off for far too long and I love everyone in the cast. No more procrastination.
I mean, it’s the teen movie of my generation – our “Ferris Bueller.” Definitely worth a look.
It’s a shame how far Lindsay has fallen… Here’s hoping that (against astronomical odds) her Linda Lovelace biopic can witness a return to fortune. Not banking on it though – porn star just doesn’t sing “resurgence” to me.
Great write up. It still pains me to see every girl in my high school throw around Mean Girls quotes yet have no idea who the hell Tina Fey is… sickening. I hope she writes more films someday when 30 Rock is up.
Tina Fey really is one of the most original comedy writers working today. Her humor is biting and sharp and the movie is just mouthing her words.
I just realized you left out my favorite part of the sex ed teacher line.
“You will get chlamydia. And die.” … wait for it … wait for it … “Now who wants some free condoms!?!”
The “free” may or may not be in the quote … there’s a chance I mixed that up with the line from “Juno.”
J’adore this movie. It was like my life, except I’m not a pretty white girl. Besides it has my favorites actresses in it, Amanda Seyfried, Rachel McAdams, and Lizzie Caplan.
This is probably the only movie Blohan was good in.
Tinay Fey is really good in impersonating Sarah Palin. Great Comedian.”:*
Absolutely. This is a movie that NAILS the genre and excels at both satirizing it and providing a vital component to it. I’ve seen it loads of times, yet for some reason I’ve never reviewed it. Gonna have to get around to that one of these days.
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