There are a few signs heading into Mean Girls that it will be an above-average teen comedy. First of all, it's written by Tina Fey and produced by Lorne Michaels. Secondly, there's so much hotness on display, that even if you're not entertained, there's still lots to look at. Not that it isn't entertaining. It is. Lindsay Lohan is Cady, daughter of a pair of zoologists (SNL's Ana Gasteyer and Neil Flynn, best known as the janitor from TV's Scrubs), who has spent much of her life living with her parents in the middle of the African bush. When the family decides to move back to the city, Cady is faced with an environment more dangerous than any she faced in Africa: high school.
On her first day, Cady falls in with pair of artists (one of whom is "too gay to function") who show her the ropes early on. They act as our guide as well, giving us a tour of what the film's idea of high school is. While its aim is largely satire, ironically, most of its ideas on cliquedom ring true. Sitting atop the social pyramid are The Plastics, led by evil incarnate Regina George (Rachel McAdams), and when The Plastics take an interest in Cady, she goes along with it as an experiment -- infiltration of the upper echelon. Immersed in the Plastic lifestyle, Cady begins to become one herself, much to the chagrin of her old friends. She too can recognize she's becoming vain and vapid, but feels powerless to stop it, or maybe she just doesn't care enough. Things go sour when Cady falls for Regina's ex, Aaron Samuels. "Don't you know exes are off limits," asks a Plastic. "It's like, the first rule of feminism." Regina gets back with Aaron for no other reason than a desire to mess with Cady's emotions, and from there, it's war.
Fey's script is pretty good, but it's not flawless. There are many quotable lines to be found (the best of which come from the adult cast, made up of SNLers Tim Meadows and Amy Poehler, on top of Gasteyer and Fey herself). What starts out as scathing satire, however, ends up becoming what it targets. Everything winds up the way it should be; the story ties itself up in with a neat little bow; no hurt feelings are left unresolved. In other words, the exact opposite of high school.
OVERALL SCORE: 7.1/10 = C+
Mean Girls is likable enough to recommend. It's funny, very quotable, and stands up to repeat viewings. It's just not all it could have been, and by that, I mean it's not Heathers.
On her first day, Cady falls in with pair of artists (one of whom is "too gay to function") who show her the ropes early on. They act as our guide as well, giving us a tour of what the film's idea of high school is. While its aim is largely satire, ironically, most of its ideas on cliquedom ring true. Sitting atop the social pyramid are The Plastics, led by evil incarnate Regina George (Rachel McAdams), and when The Plastics take an interest in Cady, she goes along with it as an experiment -- infiltration of the upper echelon. Immersed in the Plastic lifestyle, Cady begins to become one herself, much to the chagrin of her old friends. She too can recognize she's becoming vain and vapid, but feels powerless to stop it, or maybe she just doesn't care enough. Things go sour when Cady falls for Regina's ex, Aaron Samuels. "Don't you know exes are off limits," asks a Plastic. "It's like, the first rule of feminism." Regina gets back with Aaron for no other reason than a desire to mess with Cady's emotions, and from there, it's war.
Fey's script is pretty good, but it's not flawless. There are many quotable lines to be found (the best of which come from the adult cast, made up of SNLers Tim Meadows and Amy Poehler, on top of Gasteyer and Fey herself). What starts out as scathing satire, however, ends up becoming what it targets. Everything winds up the way it should be; the story ties itself up in with a neat little bow; no hurt feelings are left unresolved. In other words, the exact opposite of high school.
OVERALL SCORE: 7.1/10 = C+
Mean Girls is likable enough to recommend. It's funny, very quotable, and stands up to repeat viewings. It's just not all it could have been, and by that, I mean it's not Heathers.