Last December, “Mean Girls (2024)” arrived in theaters. Complete with iconic lines like “Fetch!” and “The limit does not exist,” the musical movie was adapted from the Broadway musical, which in turn was adapted from the original 2004 movie.
All of the adaptations and transformations, from film to musical back to film, were written and orchestrated by Tina Fey. The movie musical features the same characters, the same setting, and pretty much the same script. Most of the enjoyment that came from watching this movie was the ability to recite every line along with the new actors.
While the script may be entirely identical to the 2004 version, somehow the new movie is its own work of art. Now set in 2024, the movie brings Regina’s popularity into the digital age with lists of Instagram comments and edits—a thoughtful way to make the movie relevant in 2024 and avoid regurgitating a copy of the 2004 film.
The actors had a tough job in the musical movie because they had to step into iconic roles that have been quoted for 20 years. From Damian to Gretchen, audiences know who they are, how they talk, and what they like. The actors rose into their roles tremendously, doing justice to these characters while also adding their own artistic flair. Reneé Rapp’s Regina George is more outright cutthroat and forceful than Rachel McAdams’. Bebe Wood’s Gretchen is more subtle and nuanced than Lacey Chabert’s. None of the characters are carbon copies of their 2004 counterparts. Even with the same exact script, there is still room for interpretation.
“Mean Girls (2024)” is a perfect example of an adaptation that does justice to the original work while also creating something new. There were very few complaints about changed plot lines—in fact, the Ms. Norbury and Principal Duvall marriage edit was one of the best moments of the movie.
The music, originally from “Mean Girls the Musical,” is an example of the 2024 adaptation’s creativity, setting it apart from the original movie. The most interesting part about this transition, for me, is that the music didn’t feel out of place in the movie. “Mean Girls (2024)” could have felt dramatically different and undermined by the addition of songs and dance numbers. The musical’s Broadway success was nowhere near the original film’s level of fame. It was a risk to combine these two particular versions of the same story. The music or script could have outshined the other and led audiences to resent the addition of the songs. Ultimately, the music actually enhanced and added more to the story. The music did not try to replace anything; it was an appropriate complement to an already spectacular work of art.
I think most of these well-thought-out changes can be attributed to a simple fact: The creative mind behind “Mean Girls” stayed consistent throughout all three versions. Fey authored the original script, wrote the musical, and produced the movie musical. A lot of times, with transitions between different mediums of storytelling, the creative team changes, unintentionally altering not just small details but the underlying message of the story. “Mean Girls” has been loved by so many for 20 years. All successful adaptations take creative risks and challenge themselves, but the best ones always circle back to the very beginning.
