This yassified, Gen Z-version of the ultimate chick flick is outstanding
BY SCARLETT COUGHLAN, IMAGE BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Warning: contains spoilers.
So… The long-awaited Mean Girls remake is finally here. It’s been 20 years since the last one and, while a lot has changed in the world, the curious desire to revisit the woes of high school from a safe distance (the same masochism that inspires us to watch true crime documentaries) has remained the same.
But unlike a true crime show, this new blockbuster has a heartwarming feel-good edge, with a lot more singing and a delightful helping of one-liners. Most importantly, it has Renée Rapp.
I won’t lie – it was initially strange to see the much-loved characters of my youth communicated via different bodies and faces. The musical element – as someone who didn’t have the good fortune of seeing Renée play Regina on Broadway – also required some adjustment.
It didn’t take long, though, to immerse myself in the deliciously familiar world of the Plastics and see this new iteration for what it is: a yassified, Gen Z-version of the ultimate chick flick. And they pull it off brilliantly.
Now, some of the songs are very cheesy. Full dripping camembert cheesy, not just a light sprinkling of parmesan. But, to be fair, our whole lives as members of Gen Z are a bit over the top – we compliment a nice pair of shoes by saying they’re “so c*nt”, for God’s sake.
Parts of the soundtrack, however, are actually really good. Regina (Renée Rapp) singing Meet The Plastics? Hot.
Karen (Avantika) singing Sexy? Also hot.
And, obviously, Not My Fault by Renée and Megan Thee Stallion is an absolute tune. A gay girl can, indeed, get an Amen.
The casting is another winner. If you’re going to replace some of the most iconic characters in existence, you have to do it well. And I think they did. Damien (Jaquel Spivey) was a particularly successful switch-up, making Mean Girls’ much-loved GBF even more hilarious than in the original.
The cast was also more inclusive than in Mean Girls (2000), with characters such as Janice (Auli’i Cravalho), Damien (Jaquel Spivey), Karen (Avantika), Gretchen (Bebe Woods) being played by POC and Latinx actors.
While some characters got a much-needed switcheroo, a couple of our original favourites stay the same. Tim Meadows comes back as Mr Duvall. And, best of all, lesbian icon Tina Fey makes a return as Ms Norbury – plus she gets all the best jokes. Lindsay Lohan makes an appearance, too!
Now for the moment, you’ve all been waiting for – is Regina George a lesbian? Renée Rapp has said in interviews that, from her perspective, she is. So I guess she must be. But the movie doesn’t make that obvious. Other than a cheeky look she gives to Cady (Angourie Rice), there’s not much more than the classic lesbian trope of obsessive female friendships to rely on.
This iteration of the film, though, is definitely more LGBTQIA-inclusive. Janis is open as a lesbian for one. Plus we see girls snogging. It’s queer-friendly, that’s for sure.
Mean Girls (2024), you’ve got the DIVA seal of approval. Catch it in cinemas from Wednesday 17 January.
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