Mean Girls: A Place Among the Cool Cliques
Mean Girls secures its spot at the cool kids table with a stellar cast, infectious tunes, references to the original film, and timeless life lessons about high school While it faces competition from other teen-musicals, this immensely enjoyable experience is a rare find, whether at the theater or through streaming
With its insanely talented cast, catchy songs, nods to the original movie, and timeless lessons about high school life, "Mean Girls" secures its place at the cool kids table. While it faces the challenge of standing out from the Disney Channel/teen-musical crowd, the musical still manages to be a ton of fun - a rarity in theaters or while streaming. Tina Fey's influence is evident throughout this adaptation, with her screenplay and producing credits, as well as her and Tim Meadows repeating their roles from the original movie.
Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. have skillfully centered the film around the younger cast, accompanied by the catchy and witty songs by composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin. Angourie Rice takes on the role of Cady Heron, the innocent new student navigating the high school social hierarchy after being homeschooled in Kenya by her mother, played by Jenna Fischer.
Cady experiences some awkward moments before finding acceptance with a pair of vibrant outsiders, Janis ("Moanas" (Aulii Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), who initially take pity on her.
To everyone's surprise, Cady is invited to join the school's popular clique led by Regina George ("The Sex Lives of College Girls" star Reneé Rapp), along with her two devoted sidekicks (Bebe Wood, Avantika), who hold power over the student body, as portrayed in the song "Apex Predator."
A gifted math student, the sheltered Cady also grapples with "calculust," as she amusingly sings, over Aaron (Christopher Briney), who happens to be Reginas ex, making him off-limits if she wants to maintain her status in the popular crowd. Still, she's operating as a sort-of double agent, infiltrating Regina's group on behalf of Janis while being drawn into the captivating allure of being at the top of the social hierarchy.
Layne and Perez Jr. skillfully bring this to the screen and into the 2020s, with viral videos that move at rapid (sometimes a bit too rapid) speeds. The fundamental relationships and themes, however, are timeless, and the music bursts with infectious energy, as well as Fey-like irreverence toward musical conventions.
Recent musicals like "Mean Girls," "The Color Purple," and "Waitress" contribute to a strong lineup, with more, including the two-part "Wicked," on the horizon. The challenge lies in setting apart this content from the abundance of teen and music-themed offerings on TV and streaming platforms. However, it's likely sufficient to provide a new generation with a fresh introduction to "Mean Girls," offering the best seat in the house for Cravalho's rendition of "I'd Rather Be Me" or Rapp belting out "World Burn."
"Mean Girls" may rely on familiar high school stereotypes, but for those seeking a lively and entertaining time at the theater, it delivers on that front.
"Mean Girls" will debut in US theaters on January 12 and is rated PG-13.
