The new “Mean Girls” movie was released in theaters January 12th, 2024 and so far has made approximately $32 million in box office. It is not a traditional remake, but is a musical remake of the 2004 film by the same name. This is a current trend in Hollywood, and many classic films are being remade in the musical genre. The original “Mean Girls” grossed $130 million at the box office. Box office sales don’t lie: there are mixed reviews on the new version of “Mean Girls.”
The movie had some similar references to the original movie but it was more of just the popular quotes from the movie; the general plot was the same. The director of the movie definitely tried too hard to be relatable to the Generation Z audience, but as a result, it came across as cheesy and not relatable–reminiscent of those Netflix original films they just try too hard.
Since it was a musical, they did incorporate music that was entertaining. The .choreography and music refreshed the 2004 version. The producers did well staying on the overall plot and keeping the main points in the film. They cast Cady effectively–she portrayed the character perfectly, reminding viewers of the original actor, Lindsey Lohan. The best standout was when Regina got hit by the bus; it was laughable, and even better than the first “Mean Girls.”
On the other hand, how they chose to portray the characters was not appealing. For example, in the original movie Karen was one of Regina’s friends and was not as smart as the other girls. In the original, it was because she was sexualized by the males in the film. However, in the 2024 version, it was a lot more like she was just not smart at all. It didn’t have any meaning behind it. Instead, she came across as more annoying. Viewers agreed.
“I would change some of the actors’ performances, like during the scenes that felt rushed and forced,” said former Marshfield High School student Violet Schell, who is currently studying at Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Nicolas Patton, senior at Destinations Academy, also saw the movie and had his own thoughts. He expected the film to be pro-woman and speak to empowerment. Instead, it focused on losing weight in unhealthy ways. Patton also agreed that the casting was good for some roles, but not all.
“The main character was good for the role she was assigned to play,” he said. “But when they made her the popular girl that everyone hates, it kinda just ruined it because I felt she couldn’t really take on that role.”
