2024’s remake of “Mean Girls” is a sexy, bold adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical. The new adaptation is nostalgic of the 2004 film yet approachable for a new audience. 

The original 2004 “Mean Girls” follows previously homeschooled Cady Heron attending high school for the first time. Bombarded with cliques and the confusing rules of the educational system, Heron is taken under the wing of wallflowers Janice and Damien, who convince her to spy on the popular girls, dubbed the “plastics.” Their goal is to get revenge on Regina George, the head of the plastics, by manipulating her into losing her popularity.

The 2004 “Mean Girls” makes references to weight-based beauty and uses slurs against other characters. These kinds of negative beliefs were vital to the film and the culture of how high schools and teenagers functioned in 2004.

While the 2024 adaptation does remove the slurs, other forms of homophobia are still present. Janice is socially isolated for being queer and Damien’s character’s only purpose is to fill the stereotype of a gay best friend.

While prejudice can be a tool to teach audiences what problematic behavior looks like, the 2024 adaptation of “Mean Girls” never depicts this behavior as wrong. Being gay is simply an insult, and no one on the screen challenges that.

Other changes include the songs, which now hold a very different sound than they did in the stage production. The charismatic, bouncy tone that is common in theater and the Broadway “Mean Girls” stage production is missing within the 2024 film. 

When listening to “Stupid With Love” from the original Broadway cast compared with the movie-musical, there are glaring differences. The movie version has a softer pop feel that removes the enthusiasm. Lyrics like “I am filled with calcu-lust/ does this guy work out?/ he must” fall flat with a creepy feeling as Angourie Rice stares at her crush, motionless. 

Danica Jackson, an assistant director of performance at NC State, said musicals that are adapted into movies tend to cast actors who are not trained in theater. Although this may be enjoyable for the average consumer, for those with specific expectations, it’s disenfranchising.

“We expect people to have a certain quality of singing voice and not just in the way that they sing, but in the quality of their choices that they make a lot of times when you get these adaptations,” Jackson said.

While some songs come across as dull, songs with Reneé Rapp, who portrayed Regina on the Broadway stage in 2019, were elevated in the 2024 movie. Her songs such as “Someone Gets Hurt” and “World Burn” were slowed down with a more sultry tone, and the strength of her voice adds to the song’s commentary on Regina George’s character. 

Rapp portrays Regina very differently than either the 2004 movie or the stage musical. The other depictions of Regina by Rachel McAdams and Taylor Louderman portray her as soft and pretty but strong and manipulative underneath. Rapp does not have this false innocence, but instead presents herself as fully in control the entire time without hiding her manipulation.

These differences are also reflected in the wardrobe chosen for the film. Original depictions of Regina had her in skirts, soft pink and dressed as a bunny for Halloween. Yet Rapp is in hot pink, wears an iconic leather jacket and dresses as an angel for Halloween. These changes in both wardrobe and song production paint this Regina much differently than in the past. 

Jackson said that while it is unfeasible for everyone to make trips to see live performances of musicals, a movie adaptation does not resonate the same. Instead, musicals should be brought to the screen through recordings of the actual stage play with a live audience. 

“It keeps the integrity of live performance, where if you’ve just got the film version, you don’t get the audience, the immediate feedback,” Jackson said.

“Mean Girls” does justice to the original film but awkwardly approaches the musical aspect. Things like removing negative language work well for the film while things like casting non-theater trained actors work against it. Regardless, “Mean Girls” is an enjoyable watch and a must-see of 2024.