Don't worry, there's nothing to distract you. Not one of those Marymount boys is cute.

Mean Girls is another one of those high school comedies where all the characters aren't just regular cliche's, they're extra special, super strong, cliche's. This is a well established trend, and anyone coming who has a problem with movies that start with this premise need to stay far, far away and have no business commenting on the quality of this movie (you aren't the target audience.)

Me, I don't have issues with this. Granted, movies with these kinds of cliche's sort of put a glass ceiling on their potential quality. But the ceiling is high enough that if they're done well, as this one is, they're still fun. The weird part about this movie is it mostly exists in the realm of dialog comedy, but a couple of time delves into gag physical quality. Those times just feel a little out of place and don't really work within the rest of the framework. I felt like the movie was trying too hard to get a couple extra laughs, but it didn't need them - I was laughing enough as it was.

I went with Lisa on recommendation from a big group of gay guys she'd been hanging out with over the weekend who said the movie was spectacular. I wouldn't go quite that far, although the theater was pretty empty when we saw it and I suspect this is a movie that would get bolstered by a crowd. I felt a little self conscious laughing at some of the less tasteful jokes, I always feel better about that if there's a lot of other people laughing at them too.

I also liked the movie for some offbeat and dark comic moments. This one isn't afraid of much, and some of the jokes are pretty harsh. As and example, one of my favorite lines was:

And on the third day God created the Remington Bolt Action Rifle so man could fight the dinosaurs, and homosexuals.

Also, one of the characters wears a shirt that "I See Ugly People" - they don't show more then that but if we continue out the rest of the movie quote it would read: "they walk around just like everyone else, they don't even know they're ugly." Classic. Other solid scenes are the scream when Regina realizes she's been had, and then a moment later her standing at the top of the stairs surveying the chaos she's caused.

If nothing else Lindsey Lohan got to show some talent. She's got some chops and should be a fixture in the movies for a while, especially if she can get and deliver on a solid meaty role soon (instead of teen comedies.)

Still want more?
Read the Archives!