New student Cady Heron gets welcomed into the top of the social food chain by an elite group of popular girls called the Plastics, ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George. However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend, she soon finds herself caught in their crosshairs. A film by Samantha Jayne & Arturo Perez Jr., starring Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Avantika, Bebe Wood, Auliʻi Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Christopher Briney, Busy Philipps, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows, and Tina Fey.

Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) lives in Kenya with her research scientist mother (Jenna Fischer). Feeling stuck without friends or opportunities, she dreams of escaping her surroundings. Recognizing her daughter’s need for social and emotional development, Cady’s mother accepts a job at Northwestern University in the United States.

Introduced to the new class by Mr. Duvall (Tim Meadows), Cady is welcomed by Ms. Norbury (Tina Fey), homeroom teacher (I love how Mr. Duvall references the pronunciation with Canadian songtress k.d. lang). Homeschooled since childhood, Cady finds herself overwhelmed by the diverse cliques of public high school. She quickly realizes that the students aren’t as friendly as she imagined and initially struggles to make friends, finding herself eating lunch alone in the girl’s restroom.

Best buddies, Janis ‘Imi’ike (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian Hubbard (Jaquel Spivey), who see themselves as outsiders, notice Cady and follow her into the restroom. They befriend her and introduce her to the various cliques in the cafeteria, including the Plastics, whom they warn her to avoid.

Momentarily, Cady encounters Regina George (Reneé Rapp), queen bee of the Plastics, who takes interest in Cady and invites her to sit at their table with Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Wood), who knows everything about everyone, and dumb & cheerful Karen Shetty (Avantika). Janis appears to hold a grudge against Regina stemming from a past conflict. However, suggesting it could be beneficial, Janis and Damian encourage Cady to have lunch with the Plastics and report back.

In calculus class, Cady develops a crush on a boy named Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney). Later, when she confides in Gretchen and Karen that she finds Aaron attractive, both are shocked. Karen reveals that Aaron is Regina’s ex-boyfriend, declaring him strictly off-limits and forbidding Cady from pursuing him. She promises to keep Cady’s secret, assuring her that Regina will never find out.

Based on Rosalind Wiseman’s 2002 book “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” which was first adapted to film in Mark Waters’s 2004 “MEAN GIRLS,” followed by the 2017 Broadway musical. The 2024 version of “MEAN GIRLS” marks the directorial debuts of Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. Tina Fey returns both as screenwriter, producer, and as Ms. Norbury, reprising her role from the 2004 film.

They did a great job incorporating original musical elements and dance numbers from the 2017 Broadway musical (lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Jeff Richmond). Notably, the musical was nominated for twelve awards at the 72nd Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The film is quite entertaining to watch. Angourie Rice delivers a believable performance (I’ve always liked her since her MCU days). Both Reneé Rapp and Auli’i Cravalho shine brightly with their stunning vocals. However, I was disappointed that they cut Gretchen and Karen’s parts from the introductory song “Meet the Plastics.” I suspect they aimed for a single villain vibe, a more pop-oriented sound, and less Broadway. Despite that, I do wish they had kept Aaron’s singing part in “Stupid With Love (Reprise)” – which I personally thought it was quite cute.

The film is longer than the 2004 version, yet somehow manages to feel less impactful. Narrative-wise, it offers little that surprises viewers, lacking essential novelties in plot or twists. Perhaps simply adding a few songs and a cameo from Lindsay Lohan, are not enough to dethrone the iconic 2004 film, which cemented its place as a remarkable modern classic.

It’s not my fault. You came with her but she might leave with me. It’s not my fault. You’ve gotta pay for what I get for free. It’s not my fault. You’re like in love with me.

P.S. I’m obsessed with the song “Not My Fault”by Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion, written by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin, Ryan Tedder, Alexander 23, Billy Walsh, and Jasper Harris.

Starring a new generation of Plastics, MEAN GIRLS premiered in New York City on 8 January 2024. The film theatrically released in the United States on 12 January. Since then, it has grossed over $101 million worldwide against its $36 million production budget, proving its enduring appeal.