Mean Girls would barely register if released in 2019.
That’s because we live in an era of pursuant victimhood and the desire to let anyone know how you’re oppressed at any given moment. The days of burn books and organized bullying have subsided to literally any vocal individual trying to make an identity out of misery.
The only answer for movies like this to register with younger people is to engage them where they live. That means finding a way to connect organized and real bullying with modern concepts of what constitutes the same. After all, most modern kids might identify with Regina over Cady. Yes, I do care to explain myself.
Mean Girls at 15
Mean Girls has become a pop culture phenomenon among people that were in elementary school when the film first arrived. Such is the nature of life. Were we not so different quoting John Hughes movies off of TBS rather than having been the prime generation absorbing their wit? All I know is I’ve been tired of fetch, Pink Day and the homages for a decade now.
Mean Girls arrives on Blu-ray again with a 15th Anniversary edition. Being a sucker for aesthetic change, I did enjoy the package. However, I’m not sure if there was enough of a content change to really floor people that don’t own the film yet. Hell, I’m starting to become convinced that you kids don’t even remember what physical media looks like anymore.
Yet, watching it with a younger person at the AV Central Theater highlighted something for me. These kids have as much connection to this film as my generation had to Sixteen Candles. You can appreciate it as a comedy and like the acting, but it will be years until you know what a Bohunk means.
The Mean Girls Remembered
It makes sense that Mean Girls is fondly remembered. On its 15th anniversary, fans still wear pink and yell at people to get in their cars. Although, I think they were doing that beforehand. It’s just nice when a culture has a popular touchstone to relegate inane behavior.
If there is anything that 15 years of Mean Girls has taught us, it’s that time has its way with us all. Many are quick to discuss impossible beauty standards or the male gaze. But, I’m always fascinated by the physical toll of self-destructive behavior. Just look at Lohan at her peak in 2004.
It’s one thing to fault someone for things they can’t control and Lohan has fared a lot better than others. Still, it’s somewhere between admiration of youth and the frightening terror of reality that puts a weird tweak on this film. I mean, it’s not like you can do that with the John Hughes movies. Unless you want to talk about how yoked out Anthony Michael Hall has gotten in the last decade. But, nobody talks about that.
The Blu-ray ports over most of its special features from past releases. However, you get a new push for the Tony nominated musical that is getting ready to start touring America. The A/V Quality is the best I’ve seen. What looks to be a slightly new 1080p transfer plays with realistic lighting and grain. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is comparable to the past release. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans.
Celebrate “Mean Girls Day” with Oct. 3rd viewing party co-hosted by Tina Fey & Busy Philipps
Tina Fey & Busy Philipps Set to Co-Host
A Facebook Live Stream of the Mean Girls Film!
Hit Broadway Musical Now Playing at the August Wilson Theatre
“On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was” – yes, it’s October 3rd and that means it’s “Mean Girls Day!” In honor of the 15th anniversary of the film, the award-winning hit Broadway musical comedy Mean Girls and Paramount Pictures will host the ultimate film viewing party on Facebook.
The one-time-only live event will be co-hosted by writer Tina Fey and her friend (and Mean Girls superfan) Busy Philipps, with the livestream beginning at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, October 3rd from New York City. Tina and Busy will participate before, during and after the livestream to talk all things Mean Girls – playing trivia, answering fan questions and giving away “fetch” prizes including tickets to see the show on Broadway. This special event will culminate in the announcement of a grand prize for one lucky winner, sponsored by American Airlines, MAC Cosmetics, Dylan’s Candy Bar, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, Alice + Olivia, RXBAR, and 305 Fitness.
Visit www.meangirlsonbroadway.com/oct3 for detailed information on the event and check out www.facebook.com/MeanGirlsBway where you can set a reminder to tune in for the big day!
Mean Girls is available now in an anniversary Blu-ray™ featuring collectible pink packaging, deleted scenes, bloopers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more.
Produced by Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures, the
Mean Girls Broadway musical currently playing at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). A US National Tour launches this fall.
Mean Girls features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, based on her screenplay for the film, music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
The Broadway cast of Mean Girls is led by Erika Henningsen as Cady Heron, Reneé Rapp as Regina George, Krystina Alabado as Gretchen Wieners, Kate Rockwell as Karen Smith, Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis Sarkisian, Grey Henson as Damian Hubbard, Jennifer Simard as Mrs. Heron / Ms. Norbury / Mrs. George, Kyle Selig as Aaron Samuels, Cheech Manohar as Kevin Gnapoor and Rick Younger as Mr. Duvall. The cast also includes Aaron Alcaraz, Darius Barnes, Stephanie Lynn Bissonnette, Maria Briggs, Collins Conley, Kevin Cosculluela, Cailen Fu, Devon Hadsell, Curtis Holland, Olivia Kaufmann, Myles McHale, Brittany Nicholas, Becca Petersen, Brendon Stimson, Christine Shepard, Jake Swain, Riza Takahashi, Daryl Tofa, Bria Jené Williams, Gianna Yanelli and Iain Young.
Mean Girls (Original Broadway Cast Recording), produced by Atlantic Records, is now available.
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