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REVIEW
Feb. 7, 2024
Mean Girls
The film takes a refined approach, steering clear of offensive humor related to Cady's upbringing, and offers a fresh perspective on the high school social landscape. By: Wee Yan Ling
Genres:
Musical, Comedy
Distributor:
Paramount Pictures
Length:
1h 52m
Producers:
Lorne
Michaels, Tina Fey
Production
company: Broadway Video, Little Stranger
Description
The film takes a refined approach, steering clear of offensive humor related to Cady's upbringing, and offers a fresh perspective on the high school social landscape.
Cady befriends Janis, a profoundly insightful semi-goth and Damian, Janis’ openly gay best friend. The duo introduces her to the complexities of high school cliques, bringing the attention to the Plastics, featuring Regina George, Gretchen and Karen as they are viewed as the apex of popularity. The film adopts a visual style marked by vibrant colours and the breaking of the fourth wall under the direction of Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. The unique take of imagery through the use of smartphones help to bring about the pervasive influence of social media.
Mean
Girls is prominent for its keen observations on high
school dynamics all thanks to the sophisticated screenplay by Tina Fey. The
film draws inspiration from Rosalind Wiseman’s nonfiction book and navigates
both comedic and sociological dimensions. Director Mark S. Waters also
intuitively sidesteps teenage comedy clichés as he features realistic scenarios
such as house parties without the expected chaos and a crush that unfolds
without the typical heartbreak.
Renowned for his Freaky Friday and House of Yes, Waters has demonstrated a knack for avoiding contrived plot conveniences which makes his film a departure from the mainstream. Even as misunderstandings arise, they remain plausible which adds on to the depth and authenticity of the film. Mean Girls has managed to deconstruct high school society with levity and sociological acumen which makes it stand out from the teenage comedy genre.
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