Mean Girls

By Joanna Langfield

Frothy and fun, this high heeled reboot still has, at its soul, a down to earth message that can’t be repeated often enough.

It’s been, gulp, 20 years since Tina Fey’s original comedy debuted. But have we learned its lessons? Have we gotten wise to those manipulative ones, the girls and guys who grab their way to some kind of status, usually by being mean? I think not. And maybe neither does Fey, who has prettied up her former hit with a bright new cast and entertaining song and dance numbers from the Broadway adaptation. But the reason for it all? What could it be but to remind us not to follow, or give power to, those meanies.

Because, honestly, the movie as a whole, directed by newcomers Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr is nowhere near as distinctive as was its sassy original. And, for many, that may be perfectly fine. Audiences who love to watch the big belters on tv talent shows or who flock to mass appeal stage shows will be very comfortable watching this. And I suppose there’s really nothing wrong with that. But there are hints of more interesting, bolder things that do pop out here. Angourie Rice makes a lovely leap from her smart performance in The Nice Guys to appealing leading lady this time. You can’t help but like the also appealing Avantika and Bebe Wood, who follow in the hissing trails of Renee Rapp, who scared me as Regina. That’s okay. She is supposed to. But the hoots and boots on the ground come from the terrific Auli’I Caravalho and Jaquel Spivey, playing two friends we would all be lucky to have. If we can remember not to be swayed by those mean girls.