By: The Dweeb

DVD Features Video:1.78:1 Audio:Dolby Digital 5.1,  Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Commentary By Director Mark Waters, Screenwriter & Actress Tina Fey and Producer Lorne Michaels Three Featurettes: Only The Strong Survivor The Politics of Girl World Plastic Fashion Blooper Reel So Fetch -Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Mark Waters and Screenplay Writer Tina Fey 3 Interstitials Theatrical Trailer Theatrical release:4/19/2004 DVD released on 9/21/2004 by Paramount Pictures Running time of 96  minutes Starring: Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel McAdams, Tim Meadows, Amy Poehler Director: Mark Waters Plot: Raised in the African bush country by her zoologist parents, Cady thinks she knows all about the “survival of the fittest.” But the law of the jungle takes on a whole new meaning when the home-schooled 15-year-old enters public high school for the first time. Trying to find her place among jocks, athletes and other subcultures, Cady crosses paths with the meanest species of all – the Queen Bee, aka the cool and calculating Regina, leader of the school’s most fashionable clique, The Plastics. When Cady falls for Regina’s ex-boyfriend, though, the Queen Bee is stung – and she schemes to ruin Cady’s social future. Cady’s own claws soon come out as she leaps into a hilarious “Girl World” war that has the whole school running for cover.

One of the better high school comedy flicks to come out in recent memory, Mean Girls is well, about a bunch of really mean girls. Scripted by relative newcomer and SNL alum Tina Fey, this film is smartly written and filled with all the great characters who embody all the stereotypes of life in High School. Man, I am so glad that that part of my life is a distant memory, trying to maintain the social status nowadays must be a living hell if these movies are any reflection of the real deal. Needless to say, I was surprised at the sophistication of the humor and of the characters depth. I was expecting another mind numbing entry from the bowels of Hollywood, not something that actually made me laugh.

The main character of Cady is played charmingly well by the up and coming Lindsay Lohan. She is the fish out of water as she has been living under a rock (almost literally in Africa) most of her life and has no idea how to deal with showing up at the door of the local high school. She applies her knowledge of the jungle to getting around and surviving high school. Director Mark Waters cleverly enhances these themes with quick cuts to what if like simulations of the kids suddenly looking like animals going crazy in the cafeteria and so forth. I enjoyed her performance as she came across as cute and innocent, but not in that annoying kind of way.

Since Lorne Michaels is the producer, naturally the film is populated with several SNL cast members who don’t usually get much screen time. I thought Tim Meadows as the Principle was great as well as Tina Fey, playing the out of luck math teacher/bar tender. Oh, and I just wanted to punch Regina George’s (Rachel McAdams) lights out every time she opened her mouth. Does every school have one of these queen bees these days? I also enjoyed Mrs. George (Amy Poehler) her annoying mother who doesn’t have a clue and lets her daughter run her life. Ship both of these two idiots off to the gulag I say! They definitely help keep the movie lively.

The DVD for Mean Girls is the typical full package. The sound and picture quality are what you expect from a newer film, and I must say the soundtrack is pretty groovin. Quite the diverse mix of music for a film of this type. There are also plenty of extras on this single disc, including the usual deleted scenes, gag reel and movie promotional materials. Some good stuff to sift through if that’s what you like. I can’t complain much, this is an enjoyable romp. Of course this far from Oscar material but you will be entertained and have enough laughable moments to make this film worthwhile. So “Go Fetch” it.

Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!