Mean Girls

[serafina20]

I liked it. Don't know how much I enjoyed it, though. I spent the second half of the movie being angry and frustrated at Cady and her being sucked into everything, but then, at the end, I got the payoff. I went back to enjoying it, and came out with a positive feeling.

Okay, the premise is Cady (Katie) has just moved to America from Africa. She's been home schooled all her life, and she's starting school in high school. Bad idea, right? The first day is awful. No one will talk to her, and the teachers all treat her like they dont' trust her, which, of course, high school teachers do. Cady, though, has never been an environment where people *don't* trust her (so, I guess she used to live in heaven or something). She quickly becomes friends with two unpopular people .... Some girl whose name escapes me and a gay boy named Damien (now, why do I remember his name?;) She crushes on a guy in calculus, and things look up.

Then the popular girls: Regina (the Queen Bee), Gretchen (Lacy Chabert with a dark tan) and ... The Stupid One (???) take her in. And Cady is introduced to Girl World (I still don't know it all that well).

Janis (the girl whose name I coudln't remember, who was apparently Tina Greer, which woudl explain the vague feelings of familiarity I was getting from her the whole time) decides that Cady should spy on the Plastics (the popular girls) so they can bring down Regina. Janis, though, won't say why she hates Regina so much.

Then, everyone gets mean. Cady gets so involved with taking down Regina, she becomes her, secrets get out, bad things happen, and everything looks bleak.

Part of the reason I think I got so angry halfway through was the whole world of popular/unpopular kids wasn't my world. I guess we had popular kids whom everyone worshiped and was supposed to follow. I just have no idea who they were. My world was band, Honors classes, swimming, and drama. I knew the popular people there, but it wasn't the same. And while I had been terribly hurt by a couple of girls (Janet and Chrissy) who were popular and my friends, then not, getting revenge and spreading rumors weren't something I was interested in. In fact, I became best friends with the one person I've ever met who has never said anything bad about anyone else. Yes, I badmouthed the people who'd hurt me to her (and maybe others, i dont' remember) but since my best friend had nothing at stake, it never escalated.

However, what I *loved* about this movie was a. the way the adults dealt with things (like, you know. Adults. Not stereotypes), b. that they pointed out the fact that *all* cliques and friends have these problems, not just the "popular" girls (this is where I was actively drawn back into the movie) and c. the revelations Cady reached at the end.

I've recently come out of a whole drama that made me feel like I was in middle school/high school again. Because, yes, I just realized that, if I think back to middle school, my clique had a *lot* of these problems. And I was invovled. Having this whole thing happen to me made me doubt myself again. Doubt my integrity and inner ... goodness. I'm coming to terms with the idea that a "good" person can think horrible, horrible things about someone else, but as long as they don't spread the ugliness (and deal with the anger productively) it's okay. Our actions define us, not our thoughts (when we're angry, I mean). I do my best not to speak poorly of anyone (unless I'm venting in my journal). And that's basically what I think this movie was about.

So, I recommend it.

Comments

[phinjay.livejournal.com]

Hi! I just wanted to say that if the whole teacher thing doesn't work out, (Not that I'm saying it will!) I think movie critic is a possible avenue. I like how you weave social issues in your critiques!

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll keep that in mind! :)

[eisakay.livejournal.com]

However, what I *loved* about this movie was a. the way the adults dealt with things (like, you know. Adults. Not stereotypes), b. that they pointed out the fact that *all* cliques and friends have these problems, not just the "popular" girls (this is where I was actively drawn back into the movie) and c. the revelations Cady reached at the end.

Yes, yes, yes. I totally agree with you. I also loved how they'd show a scene if it was taking place in the animal world.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

I also loved how they'd show a scene if it was taking place in the animal world.
That was great, too. :)