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Mean Girls review: Does the new musical breathe new life into the classic chick flick?

Anna CoxGeraldton Guardian
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Renee Rapp in a scene from Mean Girls.
Camera IconThis image released by Paramount Pictures shows Renee Rapp in a scene from Mean Girls. Credit: Jojo Whilden/AP

MOVIE REVIEW Mean Girls Starring: Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm Rating: PG In cinemas: Now Reviewer: Anna Cox Verdict: 2.5/5

Mean Girls — the classic chick flick, makes a bold departure by embracing a musical format for the familiar high school drama, which shaped every teenage girl more than we all care to admit.

While the film, released last week, showcases the astounding musical performance from rising star Renee Rapp as Regina George, the magic of the original film seems to be absent.

What’s to expect when the original had Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Rachel McAdams and Lindsay Lohan?

Decorated with choreography you just know was crafted to be recreated on TikTok, it lacks the zest of the Broadway version too, leaving the film neither here nor there, in a cinematic and theatrical limbo.

Laced with montages depicted as social media posts, the film manages to create a realistic nod to what lead character Cady Heron’s experience as a “home schooled jungle freak” moving to North Shore High School would look like today.

Some musical numbers from the newest film capture the essence of characters amazingly, more than dialogue ever could.

Our first introduction to queen bee, Regina, is Rapp stepping out in a black vinyl body suit, singing: “My name is Regina George and I am a massive deal — I am drunk with power, this whole school humps my leg — like a chihuahua”

It felt unfair to Aussie grown actress Angourie Rice who — in the role of Cady, had half the vocal range of her co-stars.

Rice’s experience is localised to screen acting and is juxtaposed to her co-stars of well-seasoned Broadway experience.

The challenge of matching the humour and wit of the original, with the demands of musical storytelling is never going to be a fair fight, even when Jon Hamm makes a cameo.

Appearances from Lohan towards the end of the film, as well as Tina Fey’s onscreen presence throughout the duration is an exciting Easter egg for fans of the first iteration.

Despite the shortcomings, the film manages to carve its own niche within the parameters of an already perfect film.

The musicality of the film breathes fresh air into the familiar story, allowing for a creative reinterpretation of key scenes like Cady arriving to her first Halloween party as a realistic zombie bride, amidst a sea of girls wearing lingerie and animal ears.

In the end, whether one views the musical approach as a hit or miss depends on individual preferences.

While it may not surpass the impact of the original Mean Girls, it offers a different experience blending the nostalgia of the beloved characters which acted as a cultural reset for the early noughties.

A daring attempt to evolve the narrative, even though it wasn’t broken and didn’t need fixing.

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