Mean Girls (2004)

Nowadays Lindsay Lohan is better known for her appearances in the tabloids than for her acting, but before that all began she was a young, popular actrice who attracted a big (younger) audience. She appeared in various successful Disney movies as innocent girl, but girls do grow up. In Mean Girls we see her as teenager Cady Hero, who lived in Africa together with her parents and now has returned to the United States. It is the first time she has to go to school (as she was home schooled) and is unaware of life in high school. It’s a world with various subcultures in which nerds, jocks, alternative people and the popular girls all claim their own spot and have their own ways and it’s hard for her to find out the rules. One wrong conversation could mean that the dynamics within the groups changes. You could become an outcast.

She quickly becomes friends with two people who don’t conform to anything, Janis and Damian, who want her to infiltrate the group of the most popular girls. Their goal is to get to know them and use that information to attack them and break them up. The plan seems a good idea, but Cady quickly finds out that becoming popular has its advantages.

In the genre of “high school” movies Mean Girls, together with Clueless, is one of the best ones. Because of its strong script by Tina Fey the movie is filled with jokes that work and strong dialog, but at the same time also shows the consequences without coming across as preachy. Although Lohan is fine as the innocent girl who has to face the consequences of her choices, it really is Rachel McAdams who is the star of the film. As the manipulative Regina George she really is a joy to watch. A character you’ll love to hate.