Mean Girls (2024)

I think it was when espousing the values of In The Heights a few years back that I commented on the relative lack of theatrically released musicals compared to the genre’s heyday.

Well, maybe we’ll come to declare the current moment as the second age with a slate of them upcoming and starting with the 2024 update of Mean Girls.

Remaking the original should have had as much chance of success as making fetch happen but, with the stage show’s popularity and Tina Fey back onboard, this absolutely succeeds and is a joyous follow up.

Despite now being 20 (!) years old, the original still stands on the podium of all time high school/coming of age comedies and holds up pretty damn well (early noughties fashion aside). The 2024 edition doesn’t feel quite as close to the bone or revolutionary as the first one, in fact toning things down a touch, but does effectively honour its original.

The plot and the best lines are largely kept wholesale (with the notable exception of the Wet Leg stealing offer to butter a muffin) and often enhanced with a knowing nod to long term fans but this edition also throws a few newbies into the mix with their own hopes of becoming meme’d.

There’s an argument that it sticks to the coattails a little too much, but I think it works as its own experience and, whilst it’s obvious to detect where they’ve tried not to offend, it doesn’t place itself too squarely in the here and now.

The songs are excellent, catchy and brilliantly-staged. Having not seen the stage show, I can’t speak as to the changes that have been made but feel they service the plot well and offer an enhanced version of events.

Likewise, the cast are all spot on. It’s a tough ask to inhabit such iconic characters but everyone holds their own superbly with Jaquel Spivery (Damian) and the sure-to-be-A list Renee Rapp (Regina) obvious MVP’s.

What could easily have been a horror show mercifully becomes what will no doubt be one of the most fun cinema experiences of the year. Another iconic, memeable, laugh out loud, compelling, Easter Egg-lavishing treat that stands lovingly next to the all-timer that is the original.

They made a Mean Girls remake actually happen. You go Glen Coco.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️