by Olivia Grey
Happy 10th Anniversary, Plastics! That is so fetch!
Yes, today marks the 10th anniversary of the film that perfectly captured the characteristics and stereotypes of an entire generation. First released back in 2004 with Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert and Lizzy Caplan filling the main roles, Mean Girls centres around Cady Heron, who transfers from Africa following her parents recent 12-month long research trip. Originally home-schooled by her beloved parents, Cady is therefore unsure of what to expect when she finally arrives at a regular American high school called North Shore High School.
Happy 10th Anniversary, Plastics! That is so fetch!
Yes, today marks the 10th anniversary of the film that perfectly captured the characteristics and stereotypes of an entire generation. First released back in 2004 with Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert and Lizzy Caplan filling the main roles, Mean Girls centres around Cady Heron, who transfers from Africa following her parents recent 12-month long research trip. Originally home-schooled by her beloved parents, Cady is therefore unsure of what to expect when she finally arrives at a regular American high school called North Shore High School.
I remember watching Mean Girls for the first time and agreeing completely that there are subgroups or ‘cliques’ of teenagers who are present not only in Cady’s school, but I remember seeing most of them in my own. The line "You got your... freshmen, ROTC guys, preps, J.V. jocks, Asian nerds, Cool Asians, Varsity jocks, Unfriendly black hotties, Girls who eat their feelings, Girls who don't eat anything, Desperate wannabes, Burnouts, Sexually active band geeks, the greatest people you will ever meet, and the worst: Beware of Plastics." must have spoken to each and every teenaged audience member, and probably to some of their parents too!
Cady soon finds friends in Janis Ian and Damien Leigh, who were the ones to describe themselves as the greatest people Cady could hope to meet. They also tell her about the group they describe as "the Plastics". Gaining their name due to their superficially cold, hard and shiny exterior, the Plastics consist of ditzy Karen Smith (Seyfried, in her movie debut), spoiled but loyal Gretchen Wieners (Chabert) and lastly, the Queen bee, the biggest Plastic of them all: Regina George (McAdams).
Whilst friends with Janis and Damien, Cady finds out about a so-called ‘Burn Book’, which belongs to Regina and the rest of the Plastics. The Burn Book is said to hold secrets, rumours and stories about other girls and even some teachers of North Shore High School. Janis, who hates Regina with a passion, asks Cady to join in with the Plastics, to gain their trust and to spread all of their wrongdoings by exposing their Book. Cady is accepted by the Plastics almost without question, and this is the point in which everything turns upside down for Cady. Falling in love with Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron is out of the question, as is joining the Mathlete team despite Cady being a gifted mathematician, and soon she finds out that every part of her life suffers due to this infiltration as she herself begins to appear more and more Plastic throughout the film.
Cady soon finds friends in Janis Ian and Damien Leigh, who were the ones to describe themselves as the greatest people Cady could hope to meet. They also tell her about the group they describe as "the Plastics". Gaining their name due to their superficially cold, hard and shiny exterior, the Plastics consist of ditzy Karen Smith (Seyfried, in her movie debut), spoiled but loyal Gretchen Wieners (Chabert) and lastly, the Queen bee, the biggest Plastic of them all: Regina George (McAdams).
Whilst friends with Janis and Damien, Cady finds out about a so-called ‘Burn Book’, which belongs to Regina and the rest of the Plastics. The Burn Book is said to hold secrets, rumours and stories about other girls and even some teachers of North Shore High School. Janis, who hates Regina with a passion, asks Cady to join in with the Plastics, to gain their trust and to spread all of their wrongdoings by exposing their Book. Cady is accepted by the Plastics almost without question, and this is the point in which everything turns upside down for Cady. Falling in love with Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron is out of the question, as is joining the Mathlete team despite Cady being a gifted mathematician, and soon she finds out that every part of her life suffers due to this infiltration as she herself begins to appear more and more Plastic throughout the film.
Packed full of witty one-liners and great acting from the four main young actresses, Mean Girls is certainly not a film to be missed. Mark Waters and Tina Fey make for an all-star director and screenplay writer duo, hitting all of the spots that so many teen comedies seem to miss. The element of realism in this film is in abundance, showing exactly what goes on in a high school without hesitation in discussing taboo topics, such as sexuality, teenagers being sexually active and underage drinking. It also showcases how easy it is to want to be ‘popular’, a concept that teenage girls around the world aim to achieve.
Mean Girls tells you to be careful of what you wish for.
So tonight, bring out your decade-old Mean Girls DVD for some nostalgic entertainment in celebration of one of the most talked about teen movies ever.
Mean Girls tells you to be careful of what you wish for.
So tonight, bring out your decade-old Mean Girls DVD for some nostalgic entertainment in celebration of one of the most talked about teen movies ever.
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