20 Years Later, Does ‘Mean Girls’ Still Hold Up?

Imply Women got here out in 2004 to an viewers who had hardly ever seen crude humor mixed with femininity. However a number of the crude jokes and tropes within the movie may not maintain as much as a 2024 viewers. Every time we watch one thing that’s 20 years previous, we frequently justify out-of-touch jokes by noting that the film is “of its time.” 

In some ways, nevertheless, Imply Women was forward of its time. Like 2023’s Barbie, it was a uncommon comedy marketed in the direction of girls. Once we look again at lots of the comedies written by males, it’s simple to say they might not maintain up at present. For instance, Revenge of the Nerds exhibits precise sexual assault and harassment, however don’t fear! It was made within the 80s! (We’re nonetheless cringing.)

In more moderen a long time, there are many jokes, sometimes about race, feminism, and sexuality, that wouldn’t go 2024’s heightened political correctness. It’s not a nasty factor that our modern-day world has extra consciousness of the way to speak and joke about completely different identities. We shouldn’t police language and comedy an excessive amount of, however the line has shifted between what was as soon as acceptable to what’s now utterly inappropriate. Plus, altering traits in movie and tv, resembling casting nearer to characters’ precise ages, may have an effect on if movies are even humorous or watchable at present.

Now that Imply Women is getting rebooted, we count on the 2024 model to make a number of modifications that deliver the story into the trendy period. If it’s something just like the Broadway musical, this may doubtless embrace references to cell telephones and social media, a tune sung by Karen about how girls “may be what we need to be and attractive!” and a musical deep dive into Gretchen’s insecurities that designate her gossiping conduct. However does the unique model nonetheless maintain up?

‘Imply Women’ holds up for essentially the most half, however there are some concessions

So far as its fashion and humor go, Imply Women is an simply rewatchable movie. A lot of Damian’s strains, resembling his description of Gretchen Weiners—“That’s why her hair is so large. It’s filled with secrets and techniques!”—and his assist of Glen Coco’s 4 sweet cane grams (“4 for you Glen Coco, you go Glen Coco!”) are nonetheless quotable at present.

Most significantly, the message and story of Imply Women remains to be related. It’s a couple of fashionable clique that everybody needed to be part of. Till Imply Women got here out, little women in every single place thought that being a part of the clique was one of the vital essential issues. However Imply Women confirmed us that it’s extra essential to be true to who we’re, even when meaning publicly declaring our love of sometimes nerdy issues, like Cady’s love of math. 

We now stay in an age of following traits, because of TikTok. Hopefully, Imply Women’ 2024 model makes use of this new type of going with the grain for instance of what to not do. Cliques could also be out, however that doesn’t imply there aren’t nonetheless numerous types of peer strain and clout-chasing. Whereas the film’s principal thread and message are nonetheless related, a number of the jokes and facets of 2004’s Imply Women should be watched whereas considering, “Effectively, it was 2004.”

For instance, we all know that Cady comes from Africa, however the particular nation she lived in isn’t talked about. Africa is handled as its personal nation, which could have been a commentary on audiences’ lack of differentiating between completely different African international locations. Or it might need simply been an indication of the occasions. The race jokes all through the movie are all fairly cringey now, from Cady approaching a clique of Black women and saying “Jambo” to Kevin G., the token Brown child, rapping, to the Vietnamese women saying the N-word.

Past this, there’s plenty of homophobia all through the movie. Imply Women clearly takes a pro-gay stance with Damian as one in every of its heroes. However Regina George is so homophobic that she doesn’t invite Janice to her pool celebration simply because she thinks Janice might be a lesbian. In at present’s world, the favored woman would by no means get away with that form of conduct and homophobic considering.

The movie additionally performs out in order that the Burn E book is the final word crux of the ladies’s battle in opposition to each other. However with at present’s social media, it’s doubtless many of those rumors and “burns” would have been handed round surreptitiously with out Principal Duvall’s consciousness. Even the techniques used to take down Regina would have been affected by entry to the web, such because the Kalteen bars Cady offers her. We hope a 2024 Regina would at the very least Google what Kalteen bars are used for.

However one of many greatest variations within the occasions is how girls see themselves at present versus how we noticed ourselves in 2004. The mirror scene in Regina’s bed room exhibits that girls have been taught to be insecure about their our bodies. Within the final 20 years, nevertheless, girls have undergone a revolution of self-love and physique positivity. That is additionally evident within the 2004 solid—all of the Plastics have been stereotypically scorching, skinny, and white. That may not fly at present. Individuals who have numerous backgrounds and physique sorts may be and are sometimes the most well-liked children at school. 

So whereas Imply Women holds up for essentially the most half, its casting selections (which incorporates casting individuals who appear to be they’re of their mid-20s to play college students), sure jokes, and its perspective of ladies’s self-image aren’t so “fetch” at present.