Mean Girls
2004 · Directed by Mark Waters
Original language: English
- drama
- comedy
The story
Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated suburban color with a candy-pop palette: hot pinks, lime greens and sunny yellows against the flat fluorescent glare of a high school hallway, the cafeteria and the bedrooms of a brightly lit Illinois suburb. The camera stays mostly brisk and straightforward, with quick cuts, direct-to-camera asides and punchy montages set to upbeat pop, so the sound is busy and chirpy rather than quiet. Its vibe is zesty, knowing and warm, the kind of comfort watch that fits a lazy Saturday, a group hangout or a rewatch while folding laundry. The tone is playful satire with a sincere core: a new girl learns to see through a clique's cruelty, and the arc turns on her figuring out who she wants to be rather than who she's supposed to be. Its meanness is verbal and social, with teasing, cliquish put-downs and a catfight-style rivalry, but there is no physical violence, gore or sexual content, and the sharpest moments stay comic rather than frightening. It suits viewers who want a lively, quotable, gently cutting comedy about friendship, self-esteem and high school politics, and it works well for teens and adults alike.
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