Mean Girls Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)May 1st, 2004
MEAN GIRLS
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Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen") has had an exotic upbringing in Africa, but never encounters the jungle until she enters an American high school for her senior year of schooling. After becoming friendly with some of the weaker of the species, Cady is convinced to infiltrate the cattiest clique in the kingdom, but she waivers maintaining her own unfanged nature when she becomes one of the "Mean Girls."
2003's "Freaky Friday" reteaming of director Mark S. Waters and star Lohan scores again with "Mean Girls. Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update anchor Tina Fey has chosen well in adapting Rosalind Wiseman's "Queen Bees and Wannabes," observing high school societal behavior through a big game hunter's scope. This deliciously twisted teen comedy crosses the cliques and makeovers of "Clueless" with the politics of "Heathers.'
Naive Cady's school challenges begin when she's almost hit by a bus before she's even entered the building. She learns the ropes from Janis (Lizzy Caplan, TV's "The Pitts"), a goth outsider rumored to be a lesbian, and Damian (Daniel Franzese, "Party Monster"), Janis's overweight friend whom even she calls 'almost too gay to function.' Janis (the character's last name is Ian, a jokey reference to the lesbian folk singer of "Seventeen" fame) is particularly disdainful of 'the plastics,' the schools three most popular girls, but she stops Damian from telling Cady just why she hates them so. When Cady is invited to sit at the imperial lunch table by Regina (Rachel McAdams, "The Hot Chick"), the trio's leader, she's curious and joins them. Janis spies an opportunity for inside dope, but the naturally open Cady finds herself liking hanging with rich girl Regina, gossipy Gretchen (Lacey Chabert, "Daddy Day Care," "Lost in Space") and clueless Karen (Amanda Seyfried, TV's "All My Children"). The new plastics begin to disintegrate, however, when Cady is attracted to Regina's ex, Aaron (Jonathan Bennett, TV's "All My Children"). As new alliances form within the upper social strata, Cady is disowned by the original friends who sent her within their midst. Backstabbing reaches its peak when Regina's revelation of her own vile secrets incriminates Cady as the girl with the school's sharpest claws.
"Mean Girls" is a refreshingly honest look at the dynamics of negotiating the minefields of high school. Tina Fey, who also makes her big screen debut as the amusing, no-nonsense teacher Ms. Norbury, has done a terrific job dissecting teen behavior without succumbing to stereotype. The jungle metaphors are funny, first seen through Cady's eyes when a mall fountain turns into a watering hole, and not overused. Fads and pack behavior are addressed, in one instance by Gretchen's attempts to turn the word 'fetch' into an adjective.
The bevy of young actresses all play their parts convincingly. Under Waters's direction, Lohan displays none of the shrill hyperactivity that permeated "Confessions." Instead, she's convincing with her fresh-faced naivete. The character morphs ever so slightly into something she shouldn't be without becoming unlikable. Jonathan Bennett is appealing as the hunky guy who unwittingly causes female infighting and McAdams does a nice job as the shallow self-preservationist. Lacey Chabert is also quite good as the girl who needs a trend setter to follow. Amanda Seyfried has the least to do in the dumb bunny Tara Reid role, but she gives good bubblehead. Besides Fey's tart turn, the adult standouts include two other SNL alumni. Amy Poehler ("Envy") is hilarious as Regina's mom, a woman looking to her daughter's pals for vindication of her own youth and coolness and school principal Tim Meadows ("The Ladies Man") has an air of calm, unbelieving acceptance. As Regina's little sister Kylie, Nicole Crimi has the same creepy, entitled blissfulness exhibited by "Welcome to the Dollhouse's" ballerina Missy, Daria Kalinina.
While the final act of the film doesn't quite live up to what has come before (not too mention a sudden shock stolen from the "Final Destination" flicks), Waters rebounds with a coda that doesn't feel preachy. Young girls may just stop to examine their behavior after having a good laugh watching these "Mean Girls."
B
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