Mean Girls
I am the apex predator: the "Mean Girls" movie
Zia Eger-Slobig '25
Assistant Copy Editor
I had the privilege of viewing the new “Mean Girls” movie with two of my close friends. I walked into the film hearing both extreme hatred or defense of this movie on TikTok, so I tried to be as unbiased as humanly possible - but that didn’t last long.
Similar to everyone else in the theater (I assume), I too have enjoyed the beloved, arguably cult classic chick-flick Mean Girls. I have, at times, found myself yearning to rewatch said movie, but like most things, it didn’t age quite well, so I was intrigued by a revamped version. I am undeniably a fan of musical movies - my favorite being Mamma Mia - henceI was mildly invested.
The scene that irked me the most was the “Stupid with Love” scene. You’ve probably seen this specific part on TikTok getting slandered with hate on the singer, however the singing was not my issue. First things first, let's be realistic; people don’t sing daydreams about math. No one has ever felt that musically passionate about math, and if you feel otherwise, feel free to debate with me.
Freshman Kiki Scheurer and Aine Corbell on Mean Girls day during spirit week
Secondly, Aaron Samuels is supposed to be a jock and all I see when I look at Christopher Briney is Conrad (Connie baby) from “The Summer I Turned Pretty", a “bad boy.” That man does not look like a jock, he looks like he would serenade you with an acoustic guitar.
Thirdly, I personally believe the song, “Stupid with Love” was not a bop. I haven’t seen the Broadway musical, but I have heard the soundtrack, and that song is inarguably a banger, especially compared to the snoozefest the movie’s song turned out to be. My biggest problem with this entire scene was the dancing and background vocals because I have never watched something so awkward in my life.
Some honorable mentions of hate were the shaking people in “World Burn,” the entirety of the TikTok scenes and Cady’s heart-to-heart with the opponent in the math competition.
The only times I wasn't dissatisfied were the clips of Renee Rapp (who played Regina George in the Broadway musical as well as in the new movie). Maybe I am just a big fan, but she saved the movie. She played a significant role in preventing this movie from being a total flop.
I want to note a few specific things that they changed in this remake that completely enraged me. They made Janis a lesbian, which sounds like good representation, but hear me out. The whole joke in the original is that she isn’t a lesbian, she is lebanese. Although I enjoy their attempt of relating more with their current audience, I think it takes away a valuable plot line that showcases the idiocy of Regina and her minions. By making her a lesbian they are submitting to the stereotype that just because she is alternative and friends with a gay man means she must be gay herself - which is not true.
Along with this is the line in the trust fall scene where Regina says it’s Janis’ dream to jump into a pile of women. I am aware that this scene is not culturally correct, but it furthers the already established plot that Regina and Janis stopped being friends because she was gay.
Overall, the movie’s attempt to modernize and relate more with their young audience had the opposite effect - some things should not be changed. I personally believe that this movie, rather than becoming the new “Mean Girls” movie, has driven people back to the original.