Mean Girls
By Charlotte Dekle
Probably the most quotable movie of all time. Every scene in this film is fantastic. A great analysis of the psychology of a dictator (aka Regina George), Mean Girls spawned a sequel, musical, and numerous shirts and coffee mugs. Tina Fey really hit this script out of the park. Every character has a moment to shine, which is hard to accomplish in a teen movie. The film has developed a cult following over the years - even those who haven’t seen the movies probably know some of the more famous lines. A smart and satirical reconstruction of cliques in high school that paints this period in your life as how it actually is, a delicate wildlife balance with an apex predator and her prey. Watch this movie or be doomed to feel left out in any pop culture conversation. Mean Girls has withstood the test of time by sticking to fundamental truths - girls are spiteful as heck.
logline: Teenager Cady Heron was educated in Africa by her scientist parents. When her family moves to the suburbs of Illinois, Cady finally gets to experience public school and gets a quick primer on the cruel, tacit laws of popularity that divide her fellow students into tightly knit cliques. She unwittingly finds herself in the good graces of an elite group of cool students dubbed "the Plastics," but Cady soon realizes how her shallow group of new friends earned this nickname.
My Favorite Characters:
Lacey Chabert as Gretchen Wieners: our favorite anxious queen. Chabert plays Gretchen’s teetering anxiety perfectly. You pity Gretchen for feeling that she needs Regina to feel complete but also Gretchen wholeheartedly supports the system that is making her feel so bad. She also utters iconic lines left and right.
Rachel McAdams as Regina George: our favorite dictator. Regina rules North Shore with an iron fist and will crush anyone in her grasp. McAdams plays this character perfectly, which is in such contrast to the other iconic movie she was in during 2004 (The Notebook). She plays Regina in a way that makes her relatable, but you feel bad for relating.
Something I liked: Guys, the real villain in Mean Girls is Janis Sarkisian.(SPOILERS AHEAD) She acts like she’s an outsider but she’s really a conniving person consumed by anger for Regina. The only difference is that Regina is popular. Janis convinces Cady to become a Plastic to tear down Regina’s regime. But really, she ends up tearing Regina’s(and everyone surrounding) life apart. Janis also doesn’t even stop the regime. Cady just ends up replacing Regina and the hierarchy is still intact. Janis made a plan to manipulate the fragile Gretchen by convincing her that Regina doesn’t like her (so, not far from the truth). Lastly, the fact that Regina used to be friends with Janis further proves that they are a lot alike, and that, in another world, the two could’ve ruled the school together…. I mean Janis is, like, obsessed with her.
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and some teen partying.
Where to Watch: Hulu and available for rent or purchase on all major platforms.
Image source: IMDb