Back to the Plastics: ‘Mean Girls’ (2024) Gets a Musical Makeover
The 2024 Mean Girls film offers a fresh take on Tina Fey’s beloved teen comedy, adapting the stage musical version into a highly anticipated theatrical experience. Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., the film breathes new life into the iconic story of high school drama, cliques, and teenage rivalry. Based on Fey’s 2004 film and Rosalind Wiseman’s book Queen Bees and Wannabes, the 2024 adaptation brings back some familiar faces and introduces new talent in key roles.
[Warning: Spoilers from Mean Girls 2024 are below!]
Mean Girls for a new generation
The plot centers around Cady Heron (played by Angourie Rice), a 16-year-old who returns to the United States after years of homeschooling in Kenya. As Cady navigates her first experience in public school, she meets Janis (Auliʻi Cravalho) and Damian (Christopher Briney), who introduce her to the social hierarchy of North Shore High School. Amid this social maze, Cady is drawn into the world of the Plastics—an exclusive clique led by the charmingly manipulative Regina George (Reneé Rapp). What ensues is a chaotic but hilarious battle for power, love, and belonging.
One of the film’s most enjoyable elements is the performances of its lead actors. Angourie Rice’s portrayal of Cady captures the character’s naivety and transformation with precision, making it easy to root for her as she maneuvers through the treacherous waters of high school cliques. Her chemistry with Auliʻi Cravalho’s Janis is delightful, offering a sense of loyalty and humor amidst the tension.
Regina George, as the ultimate high school queen bee, is played with a sharp edge by Reneé Rapp. Her portrayal feels both fresh and familiar, with just the right mix of charm and menace. Rapp’s voice shines in the musical numbers, especially during her big moments, which show how far Regina is willing to go to maintain control of her world.
A fresh take on a cult classic
The musical numbers themselves are another standout feature of the film. Jeff Richmond’s reworked score, along with Nell Benjamin’s lyrics, elevates the experience, with songs like “Apex Predator” and “World Burn” adding emotional depth to the narrative. While the choreography and dance sequences bring energy to the screen, there are moments where the pacing feels slightly rushed, possibly due to the constraints of adapting a stage production to film.
The production design does well to recreate the high school environment with a touch of gloss, which fits the material’s tone. The colors, costumes, and set design are vibrant, capturing the cliquish nature of the school while still feeling larger-than-life, appropriate for the big screen. That said, there is a slight disconnect between the film’s campy, over-the-top style and the more grounded moments that deal with the emotional complexity of the characters’ actions.
The film maintains much of the humor from the original Mean Girls while updating it for a modern audience. There are moments that feel remarkably timeless, especially with the inclusion of social media references and new jokes. However, the 2024 adaptation also attempts to introduce more diversity and inclusivity, which some may find refreshing, while others might feel it lacks the same biting critique of high school dynamics that made the original film so iconic.
Despite its strengths, the film does struggle with a few pacing issues. Some musical numbers feel like they interrupt the flow of the story, especially when transitioning from drama to comedy. The nonlinear nature of the characters’ interactions sometimes creates jarring shifts that feel disjointed, especially for viewers unfamiliar with the original material.
The supporting cast, including veterans Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprising their roles, brings a sense of nostalgia, which adds to the charm. Fey’s return as the sarcastic math teacher and Meadows’ role as the school principal are small, but impactful, moments that tie the new version to its roots.
In terms of its cultural impact, Mean Girls has always been a touchstone of early 2000s comedy, and this 2024 iteration seeks to modernize that influence. The film doesn’t shy away from addressing how high school dynamics have evolved, focusing on new ways students connect and bully each other in the age of social media. However, the film’s updates sometimes feel a bit forced, as if it’s trying too hard to remain relevant without fully capturing the wit of its predecessor.
Ultimately, the 2024 Mean Girls film offers a visually appealing, sometimes campy, but fun version of the iconic story. While it doesn’t surpass the sharpness and cultural relevance of the original film, it stands on its own as an entertaining musical comedy. Fans of the original Mean Girls and the stage production will find plenty to enjoy, but for others, the film may feel a little too familiar, with just enough new touches to keep things interesting. The underlying message about the dangers of cliques, bullying, and self-discovery remains as relevant as ever, and the film does a good job of addressing those themes, even amid the drama and laughs.
Mean Girls is currently streaming on Paramount+! Have you seen this musical adaptation yet? How does it compare to the original film? Let us know @BoxSeatBabes on all social media platforms!
Mean Girls The Musical: Reliving the Nostalgia on Stage
