Great Film: Mean Girls
Being bad has never been so good....
The teen-movie genre returns with "Mean Girls," and it comes back with
a vengeance. What could have been a tired and clichéd retread of
"Heathers" is actually a clever and witty flick thanks to the talents
of screenwriter Tina Fey. Fey, head writer for "Saturday Night Live"
and co-anchor of their "Weekend Update," has an amazing flair for
satire, and what better way to showcase it than with a analytical
glimpse at the world of high school cliques? Lindsay Lohan is Cady, the
previously home-schooled daughter of two zoologists, growing up in the
African wilderness while Mom and Dad conduct their research. When the
'rents decide to settle down, Cady gets her first taste of public
schooling, which is almost as wild as the jungles and safaris she's
used to. Cady is introduced to the different factions that populate the
cafeteria—including the nympho band geeks, the nerdy Asians, the cool
Asians, the varsity jocks and of course, the Plastics, teen royalty led
by the manipulative Regina George (Rachel McAdams).
Cady is encouraged to infiltrate the Plastics by her new friends Janice
(Lizzy Caplan), a gothy and arty outcast who possesses a Janaene
Garafalo-style wit, and the flamboyantly out-and-proud Damian (Daniel
Franzese), who fears the Plastics but admires their fabulousness. Cady
agrees to the sabotage scheme, but it's not long before she succumbs to
the glamorous life of the Plastics and starts to engage in their
underhanded activities, such as writing in their "Burn Book," in which
nasty (and hilarious) things are jotted down about every girl in their
high school.
It all might sound like the typical teen fare, but the result is
nothing like that. The cast is surprisingly flawless, from Lohan (who
brings a depth to her role that Hilary Duff could only ever dream of
achieving) to the entire supporting cast, which is filled with current
"SNL" members and alums. Fey herself shows up along with Tim Meadows as
sardonic members of the high school faculty, while Ana Gasteyer and Amy
Poehler portray parents who just don't understand. Poehler steals every
scene she's in as Regina's "cool mom," desperately trying to fit in by
doing things like offering minors alcohol at her home, because she'd
rather have them drinking there than somewhere else.
The younger members of the cast don't let the veterans walk away with
the whole show though. Caplan and Franzese own their roles, Franzese
particularly when Damian displays his adulation for Christina Aguilera
during a holiday talent show. The other members of the Plastics shine
as well. Besides the deliciously vindictive McAdams as the Queen Bee,
the crew includes former "Party of Five" actress Lacey Chabert as the
gossipy Gretchen and Amanda Seyfried as the clueless Karen, who's not
above making out with her first cousin (because "there's cousins, and
then there's first cousins and second cousins…").
Fey, with the help of director Mark Waters ("Freaky Friday," "The House
of Yes"), has infused the film with her trademark comedic brilliance.
The jokes and gags come at a break-neck pace, but the punch lines
aren't the only hilarious aspects. Little touches such as Gretchen's
dad being the inventor of Toaster Strudels and Regina's MTV obsessed
little sister are details that will inspire laughter long after the
movie is over. Even the particulars about the background characters
should provide endless chuckles (just try to think about Trang Pak, the
girl in wheelchair and her little person-sidekick, and the
Middle-Eastern, hip-hop-obsessed mathlete/"Bad-Ass MC" after the movie
without smiling).
If there's anything to complain about in this film, it's the overt
sexualization of teenage girls. Of course, the actresses are older than
they play, with the exception of Lohan (who, at 17 years old, brings an
R. Kelly-like meaning to "The Parent Trap"). Parents might see the
Disney-friendly actress in the trailers and bring their young children,
but this movie is not for those under high school age (girls are called
"sluts" and "whores" throughout). However, that doesn't mean anyone
who's older than the class of 2004 shouldn't check "Mean Girls" out.
Fey, Waters, and the entire cast have made sure the experience will be
enjoyable for everyone.
Cast
- Mrs. George played by Amy Poehler
- Cady Heron played by Lindsay Lohan
- Regina George played by Rachel Mcadams
- Ms. Norbury played by Tina Fey
- Mr. Duvall played by Tim Meadows
- Mrs. Heron played by Ana Gasteyer
- Gretchen Wieners played by Lacey Chabert
