Director: Mark Waters
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Tina Fey
Runtime: 97 minutes
Release date: 18/06/2004
Plot: Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school,
until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of
alpha Plastic Regina George.
REVIEW:
“Mean Girls,” directed by Mark Waters and released in 2004, is often heralded as a teen comedy classic, with sky-high ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. However, and brace yourselves for an unpopular opinion, I found it to be a bit of a letdown. While it’s clear that most people enjoy it, the movie struck me as mediocre and mostly unfunny. When stacked against teen comedy gems like “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and “Juno,” “Mean Girls” just doesn’t measure up.
One thing “Mean Girls” does well is capture the awkwardness of high school life. The screenplay effectively makes you squirm during those painfully relatable scenes. Kudos to Tina Fey for nailing that cringe factor! But beyond that, the laughs were few and far between. The jokes felt forced, and I often found myself wondering if I was watching the same movie everyone else raves about.
The adult characters, though, are a saving grace. Tim Meadows as Principal Duvall is absolutely hilarious. He brought a level of humour that was sorely needed. His dry wit and exasperated demeanour had me chuckling more than any of the teenage antics. Maybe it says more about me and my age, but the grown-ups definitely stole the show.
Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried deserve a shoutout too. McAdams’ portrayal of Regina George is iconic for a reason – she’s the queen bee everyone loves to hate. Seyfried’s Karen Smith, with her blissful cluelessness, is both adorable and amusing. Their performances stand out and hint at the stardom that awaited them. These early roles were a great showcase of their talent.
Despite these bright spots, “Mean Girls” left me underwhelmed. The humour, which is the lifeblood of a good comedy, just didn’t hit the mark for me. It felt like a series of predictable, recycled jokes that didn’t pack the punch I was hoping for. If I had to choose, I’d rather spend my time with the clever banter of “10 Things I Hate About You,” the irreverent fun of “Ferris Bueller,” or the quirky charm of “Juno.”
It’s also worth noting that Paramount’s research showed the film’s target audience was primarily female and under 18, which might explain why it didn’t resonate with me. While “Mean Girls” has clearly struck a chord with many and carved out its place in pop culture, it’s just not my cup of tea. It’s not a bad film, but it’s one I won’t be rushing to watch again anytime soon. For me, it’s a pass – but hey, to each their own!