Brief Summary
The Ampliverse's podcast episode discusses the 2024 film "Mean Girls," a musical adaptation. The hosts share their initial impressions, discuss the movie's relationship to the original film and Broadway musical, and analyze the new adaptation's themes, casting choices, and musical numbers. They also discuss the movie's portrayal of social media and its handling of sensitive topics like bullying and sexuality.
- The movie is afraid of being a musical.
- The casting choices are great, especially Renee Rapp as Regina George.
- The movie is generally effective and worth watching.
Intro and Audience Demographics
Regina George introduces the episode of their podcast, Show Gaze, dedicated to discussing the new "Mean Girls" movie musical. They attended an advanced screening and share their observations about the audience, noting a strong presence of women, gay men, and Northwestern University students. Adam attended a screening in University City, finding a crowd resembling a Trixie and Katya show audience, with millennial women, 12-year-olds, and millennial gays.
Summary of the 2024 Mean Girls
Adam provides a one-minute summary of the 2024 "Mean Girls" movie. Katie Heron, a homeschooled student from Kenya, navigates the social hierarchy of Northshore High School. She befriends Janice and Damian, who warn her about the Plastics (Regina, Gretchen, and Karen). Katie spies on the Plastics, develops a crush on Regina's ex, Aaron, and seeks revenge after Regina rekindles their romance. Katie's actions lead her to become like the Plastics, causing a rift with her friends. A burn book is released, causing chaos. Regina is hit by a bus, and Katie takes responsibility, setting things right and finding happiness at the Spring Fling dance.
Initial Reactions and Relationship to the Musical
Adam has no prior connection to the "Mean Girls" musical, only knowing the original movie well. He didn't rewatch the original film for this discussion. Molly has seen multiple junior versions of the musical and mentions a Sarah Zed video criticizing it as a worse version of "Heathers." RJ notes the musical came out around the same time as Heathers and the girl who played Winona Ryder also played Janice in the original Broadway cast.
The Source Material: Queen Bees and Wannabes
RJ discusses "Queen Bees and Wannabes," the 2002 book by Rosalind Wiseman that inspired "Mean Girls." Wiseman, a karate teacher, interviewed young girls and wrote about their experiences with clicks and social dynamics. RJ finds it interesting that Wiseman has no daughters and that her expertise isn't in psychology or academia, despite her giving workplace presentations on these dynamics.
Production Details of the Original and New "Mean Girls"
RJ shares production details of the 2004 "Mean Girls" film, directed by Mark Waters, written by Tina Fey, and starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and others. The budget was $18 million, and it grossed $130.1 million. The hosts then discuss the 2017 "Mean Girls" Broadway musical, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, which received 12 Tony nominations but won none. They then detail the 2024 "Mean Girls" movie, directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., with a screenplay by Tina Fey, starring Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp, and others. The budget was $36 million, and it has grossed $34.5 million so far.
Casting and Cameos
The hosts discuss casting choices and cameos in the 2024 film. Ashley Park, who played Gretchen Wieners on Broadway, appears as the French teacher. Busy Philipps plays Regina's mom. The hosts express disappointment that Amy Poehler, who played Regina's mom in the original, isn't in the movie. They note the return of Tina Fey and Tim Meadows in their original roles, as well as Lindsay Lohan's cameo. Other cameos include Jon Hamm as the health teacher. 14 songs were cut from the musical version for the film. The movie was initially planned for a Paramount+ release but was changed to a theatrical release after positive testing.
Afraid of Being a Musical
Molly argues that the 2024 movie is "afraid of being a musical," citing the trailers' lack of emphasis on the musical aspect and the weaker songs that remain grounded in the school setting. She believes the strongest parts are when the movie fully embraces its musical nature, like in "Revenge Party." RJ agrees to some extent, appreciating the unique "concept" applied to each musical number, but finds the songs themselves not particularly strong or memorable.
Musical Numbers: "Revenge Party" and "Stupid with Love"
The hosts discuss specific musical numbers, starting with "Revenge Party." They praise the song's visuals, social media integration, and overall creativity. They then analyze "Stupid with Love," noting the contrast between the Broadway version's "African-inspired beat" and the movie version's more somber tone. They debate the function of Katie being from Africa and the implications of the musical's choices.
Musical Numbers: "What Ifs" and "I'd Rather Be Me"
The hosts compare "Roar," a song cut from the Broadway version, with "What Ifs," a new song for the film. They debate whether Katie should have an "I want" song, given her character's initial lack of ambition. They discuss the film's portrayal of meanness and whether it's afraid to be as biting as the original. They then analyze "I'd Rather Be Me," noting its message of being upfront about anger and its placement in the film.
Janis's Character and the "It's Not My Fault" Song
The hosts discuss the decision to make Janis an actual lesbian in this adaptation. They praise the change, noting that it addresses the problematic elements of the original movie's treatment of sexuality. They analyze the "It's Not My Fault" song, sung by Renee Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion, and its reclamation of a problematic line from the original film.
Renee Rapp as Regina George
The hosts discuss Renee Rapp's portrayal of Regina George, praising her commanding presence and the sapphic energy she brings to the role. They contrast her Regina with Rachel McAdams's, noting that Rapp's Regina is less insecure and more effortlessly powerful. They analyze the "Meet the Plastics" song and its impact.
Mean Girls and Bullying
The hosts discuss the film's portrayal of bullying and whether it glorifies mean behavior. They note that the film includes a scene where Katie apologizes to Regina, and they analyze the humor in Regina's painkiller-induced state. They praise a joke about what Regina would be called if she were a man.
Karen and Gretchen
The hosts discuss Karen and Gretchen, starting with Karen's "Sexy" song. They praise Avantika's comedic performance and the song's fun, upbeat energy. They then analyze Gretchen, noting that her "What's Wrong with Me" song is too revealing too soon and lacks depth. They discuss the character's Cuban heritage and whether it's adequately explored.
The Ending: "I See Stars" and Final Thoughts
The hosts discuss "I See Stars," the final song of the movie. They find it adequate but not particularly inspiring. They debate the effectiveness of Katie's "you're all so beautiful" moment and whether it feels earned. They express confusion over the film's choice to call prom "Spring Fling." They conclude by sharing their overall thoughts on the movie, recommending it to fans of musicals and the original "Mean Girls."
Reviews and MVPs
The hosts share excerpts from various reviews of the movie, highlighting both positive and negative aspects. They then name their MVPs: Regina George chooses Renee Rapp, Molly chooses Ali, and Adam chooses Jacquel Spivey.
Casting as the Plastics and Outro
The hosts cast themselves as the Plastics: RJ is Karen, Adam is Regina, and Molly is Gretchen. They then conclude the episode, thanking listeners and promoting their social media accounts.
