The stinging wit of first-time screenwriter Tina Fey--acerbic co-host of “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live--lends director Mark S. Waters' Mean Girls a zest and zing that few high school comedies are able to muster. An outwardly stereotypical teen movie about the new girl in school (Lindsay Lohan)--torn between arty out-crowd real friends who initially welcome her, and the catty, curvy, callous queen bees of the campus who covet her knockout looks to bolster their ranks--the flick boasts a surprisingly subversive nature, as Cady (Lohan) begins socially canoodling with the elitist "plastics" not because she wants to be popular, but because she wants to help bring them down. Lohan has terrific everygirl charm, but what makes this film unique is its shrewd observations about what some teenage girls will do for popularity. Still, while never losing its sarcastic edge, Mean Girls does eventually succumb to its own conscience and the last act beats into the ground its central themes of open communication and self-esteem. A strong optional purchase. [Note: Available in either a widescreen or full screen version, DVD extras include an audio commentary (by director Mark Waters, screenwriter-costar Tina Fey, and producer Lorne Michaels); three production featurettes (46 min. total): “Only the Strong Survive,” “Plastic Fashion,” and “The Politics of Girl World”; nine “So Fetch” deleted scenes (7 min.) with commentary by Waters and Fey; six minutes of “Word Vomit” bloopers; and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winsome if flawed film.] (R. Blackwelder)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 14, 2009—Paramount, 96 min., PG-13, $29.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2004's Mean Girls sports a fine transfer and a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous standard DVD release, including audio commentary (by director Mark Waters, screenwriter-costar Tina Fey, and producer Lorne Michaels); the production featurettes “Only the Strong Survive,” “Plastic Fashion,” and “The Politics of Girl World” (46 min. total); nine “So Fetch” deleted scenes (7 min.) with commentary by Waters and Fey; six minutes of “Word Vomit” bloopers; and trailers. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray release of a charming teen comedy.]
This titled is included in our list of inspiring movies for teachers.