For years, people have claimed the ‘remake of movies’ ruined cinema. It was always ‘get some new ideas’ and ‘why can’t people let the movies be’ but never ‘how could we innovate a classic such as Mean Girls to contain original elements while incorporating modern ideas?’ This is exactly what Tina Fey thought while creating the 2024 Mean Girls, a film filled with ups and downs, but mostly a lot of ballads.
In 2018, Mean Girls debuted on Broadway, incorporating new musical numbers and storylines written by Tina Fey, Nell Benjamin, and Jeff Richmond. Its run was successful, but unfortunately, it had to close down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this was not the end of the musical Mean Girls. In interviews, Fey mentioned her interest in a movie adaptation of the Broadway show, but it wasn’t until 2020 that she started working with Paramount Pictures on its screenplay and acting as a producer. To quote Fey, “I think the key goals for this version were for it to be fun, fresh, and surprising. Most people who will see this movie have seen the original; a fair chunk of them have seen the musical, but how can we delight and surprise them? What can we give them that they didn’t expect while still bringing them these characters that they have affection for?”
As a whole, Mean Girls is a fresh take on the original 2004 production with dazzling musical numbers and performances. Reneé Rapp reprises her role as Regina after starring in the Mean Girls production on Broadway from 2019 to 2020. She delivered a stunning performance and grasped engagement with the audience, bringing the film to a whole new level. Fey discusses her performance by saying, “Reneé can really own a closeup. Her face is so stunning, and also she’s so intimidating when she needs to be. So I think she’s built for the screen. She just is so powerful. At the same time, she has the legit vocal and movement skills of a Broadway star. So, you’re really just getting the best of everything.”
In addition to Reneé, cast members such as Avantika Vandanapu and Auli’i Cravalho deliver stellar performances. Although the cast did best with what they were given, the script is seemingly similar to the 2004 film. In the end, Mean Girls appears as a somewhat mediocre comedy if you’ve seen the original production. However, what it lacks in originality it makes up for in its bright color palette and exquisite choices in areas like choreography and sound. All in all, Mean Girls is an entertaining joyride that I would recommend for Broadway lovers or those who enjoyed the original movie.
Rating: 3 ½ out of 5
