Further proof that Broadway plays don’t always make for good movies, the new Mean Girls feels more like a high school adaptation than something that improves upon what most would say is a pretty damn flawless original.
Not to be confused with the original non-musical Mean Girls, upon which the play was based, upon which this new movie is based, this Mean Girls (The Musical) tells the exact story only with a duller blade, a weaker cast, and musical numbers. Tina Fey, who wrote the original as well as the play, is back playing the same character, as is Tim Meadows, because apparently neither of these two had anything better to do.
Trust me: you have better things to do.
Like watch the original Lindsay Lohan/Rachel McAdams/Lacey Chabert/Amanda Seyfried/Lizzy Caplan version.
Yes, nostalgia plays a role in my affinity for the 2004 Mean Girls, but that movie still stands the test of time: it is funny, smart, and often ruthlessly good. The cast is aces. The themes at play still resonate. It’s nearly flawless.
Mean Girls 2024 just feels flat and useless in comparison. Yes, it has a younger cast that may appeal more to today’s high school and college students, but it’s hard to picture several of the talented young individuals here being propelled into stardom as a result of their involvement here; they may find success in other productions, but it won’t be this one.
Some of the musical numbers are fun, and I imagine experiencing this show live on Broadway could be worthwhile, but in movie form Mean Girls just lacks bite. It’s a tired retread of the same thing, so what’s the point other than to cash in a recognizable brand?
Sadly, there’s nothing fetch about this new Mean Girls. The filmmakers would have been best to listen to Regina George and stop trying to make it a thing.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.