Musical ‘mean girls’ fetch audiences to latest plastic incarnation

“Get in losers!” It’s time to review the new Broadway-esque Mean Girls musical movie, adapted from the 2004 original. From its colorful styling to its witty banter, viewers will immediately be transported to the scandals of North Shore High, though this time with a new look and feel.

Although the 2024 release adapts its Broadway musical counterpart, it’s impossible to avoid comparisons to the iconic 2004 original, which contains much more vulgar language and far less singing. Part of the inevitability of such comparisons arises from the elements of the new movie which fall short of being “Broadway-worthy,” especially when Cady Heron’s (Angourie Rice, Honor Society) songs are concerned. “Stupid With Love,” a well-known song from Mean Girls’ Broadway version, lacked emotion and would have fit better in an early 2000s Disney movie, considering the lack of strong vocals and juvenile feel.

This proves especially true when compared to Regina George’s (Reneé Rapp, The Sex Lives of College Girls) songs, which possess that entrancing aura that Rice seemed to lack in her own scenes. Rapp played George on Broadway when she was only 19-years-old (2019) and her prior experience certainly translated to her on-screen role as George nearly five years later. Rapp’s vocals are flawless and perfectly encapsulate the popular queen bee’s snarky personality, though the supporting vocals don’t quite do justice to the powerhouse that Rapp is.

Of course, Regina George wouldn’t be Regina George were it not for her band of “Plastics,” which include both Karen Shetty (Avantika Vandanapu, Senior Year) and Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Wood, Love, Victor). Vandanapu perfectly captures Karen’s ditsy, “dumb blonde” vibe, and her rendition of the song “Sexy,” while differing a bit from the Broadway version, is executed extremely well and translates seamlessly to the Gen Z feel of the new movie. Vandanapu not only makes the perfect Shetty, but also brings more diversity to the iconic “Plastics” trio, something which cannot be overlooked. South Asians are often portrayed as nerdy, unpopular characters in the media, as seen in shows like Never Have I Ever, and The Mindy Project, so having a brown Karen Shetty is something to be celebrated as it may help break down cultural stereotypes many Westerners hold. Vandanapu even said during an interview with VOGUE India, “The movie felt like an epitome of everything I wanted to experience but never could, like being glamorous and popular, and being able to talk about boys and what outfit we’re wearing.”

The other “minion” in George’s posse, Gretchen Wieners, cannot be forgotten either, as Wood brings a bit of her own cultural identity to the table. Wieners is seen briefly mentioning her “abuelita,” a nod to Wood’s Cuban heritage. Not only was Wood able to bring her own touch to the character, but she was clearly the perfect choice for Wieners with how she recreates the vibe of the original film. This primarily manifests through the line “you can’t sit with us,” something which Wood said in the perfect high-pitched tone to match the energy of Lacey Chabert, Wiener’s original actress.

This transition from old to new isn’t so seamless in other characters, such as Janis 'Imi'ike (Auli'i Cravalho, Moana), who seems to lack some of her original spunk. Perhaps this is due to the fact that her character is constantly singing theatrical songs, which seems almost contradictory to Janice’s vengeful, petty demeanor. Not all of the character’s changes are negative, however, as the 2024 'Imi'ike is more outward about her sexuality, something the old movie lacked. Perhaps it can be attributed to the time period of the original movie’s release, but the previous 'Imi'ike was repeatedly labeled a lesbian, yet never admitted to her sexuality and never had any love interests. Cravalho’s version of the much-loved character is, unlike the original, seen going to prom with a same-sex love interest, which is a refreshing change. 'Imi'ike’s sexuality isn’t a focal point of the film, and she never has any big “coming out” moment, which is appreciated considering the media’s need to bring attention to their progressive inclusivity, as seen in films such as Love, Simon. 'Imi'ike is proof that characters can be queer without it being their sole defining characteristic, reaffirming for many who have felt invalidated by the extravagance of Hollywood’s previous queer characters.

This inclusivity, though more subtle, is seen through Rapp’s version of George as well, as her character suggests she may have an interest in girls despite her relations with Shane Oman (Brian Altemus, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin) and Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney, The Summer I Turned Pretty). Even Rapp suggests that George doesn’t display any interest in the men deemed her “love interests,” going so far as to say, “she just uses them as a little pawn.” Rapp furthers this theory in an interview with Them, blatantly stating that “[Regina being a lesbian] was always my interpretation of it, still is my interpretation of it. It might not be other people’s, and I truly don’t care. It’s mine, and that’s how I feel.”

Changes aside, there are certain elements, and even characters, who have remained the same. This consistency is with Ms. Norbury (Tina Fey, 30 Rock) and Principal Duvall (Tim Meadows, The Ladies Man), who play the same characters as they did in the 2004 original. Their characters are now married, a pleasant surprise considering the obvious tension the two had in the original, especially on the part of Duvall. Fey still gives her well-known speech in the latter half of the film in which she attempts to unite the female student body of North Shore High, something which ends in admissions of fault, giggles, and a girl who “doesn’t even go here.”

In the end, the Mean Girls musical is pretty “fetch,” but definitely lacking some of the flare that makes Mean Girls what it is. Perhaps if the Shein-esque clothes were burned like George’s backpack, and the brand deal with E.l.f. Cosmetics was hidden a bit better, the movie would find more success. Besides, everyone knows Regina George has a more expensive taste than fast fashion and drugstore makeup, and her whole persona revolves around being a trend-setter, not a trend-follower.

Grade: B+

New Mean Girls adaptation that just misses the mark on recreating such an iconic character.

by Emma Toney

Published January 29 2024

Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue IV