Jon Hamm

Tupperware may be stodgy, but The Plastics are still in the pink, continuing to rule their school some 20 years later in an in tune Mean Girls movie for a new generation. It’s a big screen version of the best of the Broadway musical adapted from the 2004 feature film, all penned by the “grool” Tina Fey. While following the original premise, this Mean Girls is a bit edgier and darker. Mean Girls, the musical, can never replace its modern classic model, but it’s fetch enough for the next generation.

Remember, humans, it’s our kindness and empathy that matter, not the meager power or pretty meat sacks what leverage in our social interactions. This update, co-directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr, with a book by ’04 screenwriter Tina Fey, drives that message home far better than its predecessor. I’m not sure this Mean Girls update will become a classic, per se, but it’s certainly more than just an entertaining diversion. It’s one hell of a vehicle for the cast, and also a fun message movie about belonging, personal responsibly, sense of self, and the value of friendship. This one just happens to come dressed in pink.

The new Mean Girls follows the same general narrative beats as the 2004 film, but it’s more an adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical adaptation of the original film. While it has some enjoyable performances, it’s also more of an ensemble, a self-described cautionary tale with a “just be nice” message that feels more rushed than organic. This might appeal to fans of the musical, but having rewatched the original film recently, I found that one way more fetch.