MEAN GIRLS
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Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen") has had
an exotic upbringing in Africa, but never encounters the jungle until she
enters an American high school for her senior year of schooling. After
becoming friendly with some of the weaker of the species, Cady is convinced
to infiltrate the cattiest clique in the kingdom, but she waivers
maintaining her own unfanged nature when she becomes one of the "Mean Girls."
2003's "Freaky Friday" reteaming of director Mark S. Waters and star Lohan
scores again with "Mean Girls. Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update anchor
Tina Fey has chosen well in adapting Rosalind Wiseman's "Queen Bees and
Wannabes," observing high school societal behavior through a big game
hunter's scope. This deliciously twisted teen comedy crosses the cliques
and makeovers of "Clueless" with the politics of "Heathers.'
Naive Cady's school challenges begin when she's almost hit by a bus before
she's even entered the building. She learns the ropes from Janis (Lizzy
Caplan, TV's "The Pitts"), a goth outsider rumored to be a lesbian, and
Damian (Daniel Franzese, "Party Monster"), Janis's overweight friend whom
even she calls 'almost too gay to function.' Janis (the character's last
name is Ian, a jokey reference to the lesbian folk singer of "Seventeen"
fame) is particularly disdainful of 'the plastics,' the schools three most
popular girls, but she stops Damian from telling Cady just why she hates
them so. When Cady is invited to sit at the imperial lunch table by Regina
(Rachel McAdams, "The Hot Chick"), the trio's leader, she's curious and
joins them. Janis spies an opportunity for inside dope, but the naturally
open Cady finds herself liking hanging with rich girl Regina, gossipy
Gretchen (Lacey Chabert, "Daddy Day Care," "Lost in Space") and clueless
Karen (Amanda Seyfried, TV's "All My Children"). The new plastics begin to
disintegrate, however, when Cady is attracted to Regina's ex, Aaron
(Jonathan Bennett, TV's "All My Children"). As new alliances form within
the upper social strata, Cady is disowned by the original friends who sent
her within their midst. Backstabbing reaches its peak when Regina's
revelation of her own vile secrets incriminates Cady as the girl with the
school's sharpest claws.
"Mean Girls" is a refreshingly honest look at the dynamics of negotiating
the minefields of high school. Tina Fey, who also makes her big screen
debut as the amusing, no-nonsense teacher Ms. Norbury, has done a terrific
job dissecting teen behavior without succumbing to stereotype. The jungle
metaphors are funny, first seen through Cady's eyes when a mall fountain
turns into a watering hole, and not overused. Fads and pack behavior are
addressed, in one instance by Gretchen's attempts to turn the word 'fetch'
into an adjective.
The bevy of young actresses all play their parts convincingly. Under
Waters's direction, Lohan displays none of the shrill hyperactivity that
permeated "Confessions." Instead, she's convincing with her fresh-faced
naivete. The character morphs ever so slightly into something she
shouldn't be without becoming unlikable. Jonathan Bennett is appealing as
the hunky guy who unwittingly causes female infighting and McAdams does a
nice job as the shallow self-preservationist. Lacey Chabert is also quite
good as the girl who needs a trend setter to follow. Amanda Seyfried has
the least to do in the dumb bunny Tara Reid role, but she gives good
bubblehead. Besides Fey's tart turn, the adult standouts include two other
SNL alumni. Amy Poehler ("Envy") is hilarious as Regina's mom, a woman
looking to her daughter's pals for vindication of her own youth and
coolness and school principal Tim Meadows ("The Ladies Man") has an air of
calm, unbelieving acceptance. As Regina's little sister Kylie, Nicole
Crimi has the same creepy, entitled blissfulness exhibited by "Welcome to
the Dollhouse's" ballerina Missy, Daria Kalinina.
While the final act of the film doesn't quite live up to what has come
before (not too mention a sudden shock stolen from the "Final Destination"
flicks), Waters rebounds with a coda that doesn't feel preachy. Young
girls may just stop to examine their behavior after having a good laugh
watching these "Mean Girls."
B
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