Regina George and the Plastics are back in Mean Girls, the musical reboot of 2004’s original film. Once again brought to viewers by the mind of Tina Fey, Mean Girls will grace the screens in a slightly altered portrayal, which includes songs and dancing.
Granted, the trailer itself does not include much of either, even if it is hinted at. Instead, the trailer focuses more on nostalgia while acknowledging that it is a recreation. The trailer even calls out the audience calling it “This Is Not Your Mother’s Mean Girls.”
The slightly over two-minute teaser brings back iconic moments from the original film, including Cady’s overly scary Halloween costume, the Santa school performance, “Get in loser,” Regina’s overly relaxed mother, the Burn Book, and the female students gathering in the gym.
The original 2004 film is still considered an iconic teen movie. The satirical flick had found a new student, Cady, after years of being homeschooled, being thrown into the deep end of high school, and the conflicts that surround “Girl World.”
2024’s remake features the same array of characters with a new twist. Tina Fey’s return to Mean Girls, following having written the original film and stage musical, also sees her return to her on-screen role in addition to being a writer on the film. While Tina Fey reprises her role as faculty member Ms. Norbury, Tim Meadows is reprising his role as Principal Ron Duvall.
The 2024 iteration of Mean Girls certainly has the opportunity to make the same impression on audiences that the original had in 2004. But will the film be a near replica of the original, or will the twenty years between movies encourage alterations to the characters, storylines, and jokes?
While not everything in the 2004 film aged well, Mean Girls still actively holds a place in present-day pop culture.
Does 2024’s remake have a chance to stand on its own? Or, will it be compared to the original even if it is a great movie in its own right?
Mean Girls comes to theaters on Friday, January 12th, 2024.
