Mean Girls (2024)

Mean Girls decently balances old and new. While there are plenty of line-for-line retread scenes, the script successfully delivers fresh jokes at a passable rate. Its musical numbers are entertaining but frequently halt the story and distract from emotional investment. The acting supplies relatability, chemistry, humor, exaggeration, mannerisms, intensity, commitment, singing, and dancing, yet their roles are often simplified or sidelined. Still, the characters are defined, motivated, and dynamic (despite less setup). It has themes of bullying, respect, responsibility, and inclusion. There's foreshadowing, absurdism, and growth. Overall, Mean Girls isn't essential but it's sincere.

Technically, Mean Girls provides flair yet lacks intimacy. The cinematography uses movement, POVs, dramatic lighting, focus, mounts, and impressively long takes. Its editing adds hidden cuts, inserts, montages, timing, split screens, intercuts, frame rates, and match cuts. The sound has split cuts, stings, emphasis, muffling, echoes, distortions, and smash cuts. Its music is original, central, varied, theatrical, and fairly forgettable. The production design offers set pieces, iconography, color, and surrealism. Its cast combines youth, fame, talent, depth, diversity, and cameos. The effects are minimal. Ultimately, Mean Girls is different and proficient enough to be justified.

Writing: 7/10

Direction: 6/10

Cinematography: 8/10

Acting: 8/10

Editing: 8/10

Sound: 7/10

Score/Soundtrack: 8/10

Production Design: 7/10

Casting: 8/10

Effects: 6/10

Overall Score: 7.3/10