Mean Girls
2004
***½
Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Franzese, Tim Meadows, Amy Poehler, Ana Gasteyer
The 16-year-old Cady Heron was raised and homeschooled in Africa, but now she must face the social hierarchies of American high school. Cady infiltrates a group of popular but nasty girls, but in the process begins to lose the sight of her true self. This iconic high school comedy deals with social cliques and the effects of school bullying. The film is funny and likeable, and both the source and sustainer of teen movie tropes. Tina Fey's screenplay was inspired by Rosalind Wiseman's self-help book Queen Bees and Wannabes. Followed by a 2011 sequel and a 2024 musical version.
