The Plastics are back and with more flare than ever! Released on January 12, 2024, the new “Mean Girls” movie had people flocking to the theaters to be reunited with some of the most iconic characters in cinema. Unfortunately, unlike the original, the latest edition of “Mean Girls” falls flat like a poorly executed Burn Book entry. Despite the anticipation surrounding Tina Fey’s return to pen the script, this adaptation fails to recapture the magic that made the 2004 film a cult classic. From overworked musical numbers to flashy visuals, the film struggles to find its footing in a landscape oversaturated with constant remakes and adaptations.
“I was really excited to see the film, but I was disappointed,” Lambert sophomore Anvi Mundra said. “It didn’t really meet my expectations; there were too many songs, and it just felt dull. Some of the dialogue just felt odd and misplaced.”
Many “Mean Girls” fans — both of the original film and the Broadway version — felt this disappointment. Despite having its share of nostalgic and humorous moments, the movie ultimately falls short of capturing the spirit of what made the original special. For one, the film relies heavily on recycled jokes and dialogues from the 2004 original. It makes the film feel stale, lazy and uninspired. There were many opportunities to include new takes and new jokes, but by ignoring those opportunities, the film missed the chance to breathe life into the beloved story. Furthermore, the film tries to appeal to a Gen-Z audience without much luck. The use of bad TikTok-style editing and sanitized dialogue fails to hold up against the witty and edgy satire of the original.
However, there are some silver linings in the movie. The cast was spectacular, with Renee Rapp reprising her role as Regina George from the Broadway Musical; she delivered a powerful performance. The most unexpected yet wonderful performance came from Avantika Vandanapu, who plays the role of Karen Shetty. While Karen originally has little to her character, Vandanapu takes it to a new level throughout the film.
“I really liked the performances by the main cast,” Mundra said. “They were funny, and it definitely felt different but still had the important aspects like the sass and sarcasm of the original performances.”
While the movie has many flaws, there’s still a certain charm to the new “Mean Girls” movie. That charm can be attributed to the love its predecessor received and the killer cast.
Unfortunately, “Mean Girls” falls into the category of remakes that seem lackluster and unnecessary in comparison to their counterparts. That doesn’t go to say that it is a bad movie, it simply is just a remake relying on the success of the original “Mean Girls”. Although the movie doesn’t live up to the original, it can still be enjoyed by the masses. So if you head to the theaters to watch “Mean Girls” don’t expect it to be as fetch as the original.
