Film Critic to the Culver City Observer and over 132 Publications Worldwide including: The Observer, Inc., John Schimmenti, Inc., CCN, Inc.,
Santa Monica Observer, Inc., Beacon-Times, Inc., Columbus-Register, Inc., and a Host of Others
Mean Girls
by
debbie lynn elias
Lindsay Lohan stars as Cady and whatever mis-step happened with her last film, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen", are long forgotten on seeing "Mean Girls." Under the guidance of her "Freaky Friday" director, Mark Waters, Lohan's fresh-faced yet confident naivete permeates the screen and she handles the nice girl-mean girl metamorphosis without ever losing her appeal. She is the core, the center, the ground of this film, but never overshadows the story, the message or the other characters. Instead, she serves as the base, the foundation on which everything else is built and adds some of her elan and comedic presence to every other element of the film.
In a genre that rarely has a strong supporting cast, "Mean Girls" pulls ahead of the pack with a standout group of supporting faces. If there is anyone who can pull off bitch chick Regina better than Rachel McAdams, please tell me now. With an icy cold superiority and venom running through her veins, McAdam captures clique meanness to a "T." And toss in her little plastic minions, Gretchen and Karen, played to the hilt by Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried, and you need no others as foils for Lohan's niceness. Chabert adds a level of fearful adoration to Gretchen while Seyfried is hysterical as the scatter-brained Karen who pays homage and gives thanks just for being permitted to be a Plastic. But let's not forget fellow outsiders, Janice and Damian. Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Franzene are well rounded comedic delights whether alone or with Lohan. They create characters that you can't help but enjoy, empathize and sympathize with all at the same time. But the real icing on the cake goes to screenwriter Tina Fey who makes her big screen debut as the non nonsense Ms. Norbury, Cady's math teacher and self-appointed mentor. Undoubtedly drawing on an experience from her own life, this "Saturday Night Live" veteran pulls out all stops as she encourages geekdom by pushing Cady to join the Mathletes –– the school''s competitive math team.
Thanks to a well-crafted, solid, inventive, clever, detailed, slightly (and deliciously) acidic and extremely funny script by "Saturday Night Live" veteran Tina Fey, director Waters gives us a fast-paced, intriguing and fun film about high school life that never goes for the stereotypical and keeps coming back at you with scenes, dialogue and performances fresher and funnier than the one before.
Speaking to anyone who has survived the jungles of high school, "Mean Girls" has something for everyone. The refreshingly honest appeal of this film is ageless. And although I've said it many times before, enough can't be said about Lindsay Lohan. She just shines, giving a grounded, centered, comedic performance, proving her mettle once again and why she is the darling of Disney and now Paramount.
Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Caplan and Lacey Chabert. Directed by Mark S. Waters. Written by Tina Fey. Based on the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes" by Rosalind Wiseman. A Paramount Pictures film. Rated PG-13. (93 min)