Mean Girls 2024 is an exciting Gen Z update of Tina Fey’s iconic millennial classic that transports the story into the 2020s. Written and directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr, making their directorial debuts.
Renee Rapp gives an incredible performance as Regina, using facial expressions and her powerful vocals to portray her conniving personality. The film addresses issues like slut-shaming and the “girl world”, providing audiences with a memorable viewing experience.
Teenager Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the elite group of popular girls known as “The Plastics.” But when she falls for Regina George’s (Renee Rapp) ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), Cady must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.
After watching the first Mean Girls trailer released in November, many viewers were confused and slightly disappointed to realize it was only a glimpse of a full movie musical. With its tagline “This isn’t your mother’s Mean Girls”, viewers should have known this was different from its 2004 predecessor.
Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.’s new adaptation, Mean Girls: Redefined, maintains much of its original humor and references while adding new ones that feel more relevant to today’s teenage girls. Luckily, Mean Girls Redefined remains as sassy and fearless while remaining more modern with its references and musical selections.
Renee Rapp, who played Regina George in both the Broadway production and movie adaptations of Mean Girls, performs her iconic role with pride and conviction. While filling Lindsay Lohan’s footsteps is no small task, Rapp gives it her all in her performance that will leave all Mean Girls fans proud.
One of the many highlights of the new Mean Girls is its supporting cast, all of whom play their respective roles beautifully. Aulii Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey excel as Janice and Damian respectively; their portrayals embody more progressive aspects while still providing all of the firepower their characters demand.
Busy Philipps makes an outstanding impression as Cady’s mother, while Jon Hamm is perfect as Coach Carr. Unfortunately, this new adaptation does not match up to its predecessor due to a lack of chemistry and emotional depth; nonetheless, both cast and directors did an exceptional job updating this timeless classic for today.
Based on the hit Broadway musical
North Shore High School’s hallways are filled with pink. Tassels draped from lockers dangle from them, while an announcement to “Vote for your Spring Fling Queen” reads across the length of the school. Amid all this pink splendor are cliques led by Regina George (Renee Rapp) who welcomes new girl Cady Heron into her group of “The Plastics.” Cady Heron is encouraged by Janis and Damian (Auli’i Cravahalo and Jaquel Spivey), two outcasts who wish to dethrone Regina George (Renee Rapp).
Mean Girls 2024 is an impressive sequel that remains just as funny despite having a new cast and modernized technology, such as TikTok redoing. From old jokes and performances that feel contemporary to an increase in high school tension – Mean Girls 2024 remains a successful comedy with classic references yet an enhanced sense of drama compared to its predecessor.
Tina Fey reprises her role as Ms. Norbury from her 2004 hit teen comedy and is joined by most of the Broadway cast as well as Jon Hamm in Jon’s role as an embarrassing coach at school, Jon Hamm being played by Jon Hamm himself! Composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin adapted all the songs written for stage play into songs specially suited for screen use by composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin respectively.
Even with some editing changes, this film still contains many of the Broadway musical’s funniest moments and songs, though some cuts to Cady may prove frustrating: Angourie Rice does not possess the voice for certain of her songs and their reduced impact may hinder plot progression. Still, director Andrew Ullrich’s edits serve a purpose by giving some characters more characterization that might have otherwise gone overlooked.
Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.
Tina Fey’s Mean Girls became an instant cultural touchstone, its characters, and dialogue ingrained into our culture and vocabulary. So when a remake came along, many predicted there would be criticism – yet while there may have been surface changes made for this new movie version, fans of Tina Fey’s original film found this new movie enjoyable and tuneful as an experience to revisit and revisit!
Renee Rapp and Aulii Cravalho lead an outstanding cast, providing some of the most iconic lines from the original and adding new energy to others. Director Samantha Jayne works well with cinematographer Arturo Perez Jr, using their trademark gliding style that works seamlessly within this story arc, taking time to ensure each girl receives some character development – even those like Regina George and Gretchen Wieners who have been with us longer!
Song and dance numbers set this version apart from its predecessor. High school musicals are timeless entertainment, and Jayne and Perez put on some incredible production numbers that showcase some of their best acting work and put viewers of all ages singing along! The acting between Jayne and Perez is terrific while their production numbers provide some fantastic moments from their respective careers – this production number from Jayne will have all generations singing along!
Mean Girls 2024 is packed with outstanding dance sequences, classic, memorable punchlines, and modern cultural references that will have audiences laughing out loud again and again. From Regina’s hilarious bitching about Aaron to sleazy Halloween costumes or Regina’s antics at Halloween parties – anything is sure to get audiences laughing out loud in 2024’s Mean Girls!
Starring Renee Rapp
Tina Fey’s modern classic feels fresh and relevant with a new cast that leans much closer to high school age, thanks to reimagining by Tina Fey that stars a far younger cast than its 2004 predecessor. Gone is the plot about two student-teacher affairs as well as some of the harsher insults and objectification, while Regina George is shown more humanized through how her bullying stems from internal insecurities rather than from external aggressors; also included is gay content as well as more mature discussions of same-sex relationships compared to 2004 version.
Yet the performances of its central cast make this Mean Girls so timeless and relevant to today. While Gen Z actors could use more of the elevated songcraft that made its Broadway version an international phenomenon, all were great performers – Renee Rapp (who earned raves as Regina George in the Broadway version) is terrifying and intimidating as ever here, with her powerful yet seductive vocal delivery; supported by Janis Cravalho and Damian Spivey who act as film narrators.
Fey’s script features her trademark sharp-tongued humor that keeps audiences laughing for the entire duration of this comedy film. Fans of the original will undoubtedly enjoy this sequel, while newcomers to high school can use this film as an entryway into its ever-difficult environment – proof positive that high school continues to be “a f***ing shithole”. * Which, of course, makes all this even sadder.
Produced by Tina Fey
Director Tate Taylor and his cast of talented actors – featuring Jon Hamm from Mad Men as its star lead actor, Rachel Dratch from former SNL cast, and Tina Fey from 30 Rock in an uncredited role – make the most of this twisted comedy about a town’s witch hunt for a murderer terrorizing teenage girls. But this direct-to-VOD release could signal either 1) a lack of support from distributors/streaming services OR 2) an incorrect assumption by the movie business that mid-budget comedies/adult comedies are rarely commercially viable.
This film follows Janis and Damian, two sisters still caught up in high school life. Janis is a gossip who knows everyone’s business while Kate makes a meager living doing people’s hair – she lives at her friend’s apartment while using hair-dye materials in an attempt to revitalize her fading career.
Maggie Moore(s) isn’t the first movie to use teenage ignorance as a comedy device, but it does so more transparently than most. Unfortunately, Maggie relies too heavily on cliches for laughs; its characters – particularly children – lack personality so you never get attached or concerned for them or fear for their fates.
Fey has made quite the mark in her prolific career thus far, appearing on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building as well as executive producing Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt along with series creator Lorne Michaels, while also set to star in Dude Where’s My Car? as an actress.