Mean Girls (2004)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Mark Waters

Writers (WGA):

Rosalind Wiseman (book)
Tina Fey (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Welcome to Girl World.

Plot:

Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Africa | Clique | Teenage Girl | Mathletes

Awards:

7 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Lindsay Lohan	...	Cady Heron
Rachel McAdams	...	Regina George
Tina Fey	...	Ms. Norbury
Tim Meadows	...	Mr. Duvall
Amy Poehler	...	Mrs. George
Ana Gasteyer	...	Cady's Mom
Lacey Chabert	...	Gretchen Wieners
Lizzy Caplan	...	Janis Ian
Daniel Franzese	...	Damian
Neil Flynn	...	Cady's Dad
Jonathan Bennett	...	Aaron Samuels
Amanda Seyfried	...	Karen Smith
Rajiv Surendra	...	Kevin Gnapoor
Elana Shilling	...	Spelling Girl
Graham Kartna	...	Homeschooled Boy
Ely Henry	...	Homeschooled Boy
David Aherne	...	Homeschooled Boy
Ayo Agbonkpolo	...	African Warrior
Molly Shanahan	...	Kristen Hadley
Jonathan Malen	...	Kristen's Boyfriend
Jeff Moser	...	'Farting' Guy
Miranda Edwards	...	Michigan Girl
Les Porter	...	Chemistry Teacher
Eve Crawford	...	English Teacher
Jack Newman	...	History Teacher
Michelyn Emelle	...	Music Teacher
Bathsheba Garnett	...	German Teacher
Ky Pham	...	Trang Pak
Danielle Nguyen	...	Sun Jin Dinh
Daniel DeSanto	...	Jason
Alisha Morrison	...	Lea Edwards
Chris Ploszczansky	...	Huge Guy
Dwayne Hill	...	Coach Carr
Diego Klattenhoff	...	Shane Oman
Jan Caruana	...	Emma Gerber
Wai Choy	...	Mathlete Tim Pak
Julia Chantrey	...	Amber D'Alessio
Jacky Chamberlain	...	Giselle Sgro
Olympia Lukis	...	Jessica Lopez
Stefanie Drummond	...	Bethany Byrd
Kristen Bone	...	Short Girl
Jessie Wright	...	Cady 5 Years Old
Tyson Fennell	...	Nfume
Stephan Dickson	...	Animal Dancer (as Stephan Dixon)
Andreja Punkris	...	Animal Dancer
Noelle Boggio	...	Animal Dancer
Jordan Dawe	...	Animal Dancer
Alexandra Stapley	...	Taylor Wedell
Laura DeCarteret	...	Taylor Wedell's Mom (as Laura deCarteret)
Nicole Crimi	...	Kylie George
Erin Thompson	...	Dawn Schweitzer
Dan Willmott	...	Mr. George
Michelle Hoffman	...	Kissing Girl
Valerie Casault	...	Kissing Girl
Sharron Matthews	...	Joan the Secretary
Jo Chim	...	Salesperson
Randi Lee Butcher	...	Skater Girl
Erin Jarvis	...	Skater Girl
Kaylen Christensen	...	Jock Girl
Jill Morrison	...	Crying Girl
David Sazant	...	Marymount Captain
Clare Preuss	...	Caroline Krafft
Bruce Hunter	...	Mathlete Moderator
Megan Millington	...	Junior Plastic
Tara Shelley	...	Junior Plastic
Shannon Todd	...	Junior Plastic
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Krysta Carter	...	Wannabe (uncredited)
Nicholas A. Catalano	...	Kid in Classroom (uncredited)
Sima Fisher	...	Halloween Army Girl (uncredited)
John Gadsden	...	Student (uncredited)
Lucila Grzetic	...	Teenager (uncredited)
Talia Russo	...	Kissing Couple (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Waters

Writing credits (WGA)
Rosalind Wiseman		(book "Queen Bees and Wannabes")
Tina Fey		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jennifer Guinier	....	associate producer
Jill Sobel Messick	....	executive producer (as Jill Messick)
Lorne Michaels	....	producer
Louise Rosner	....	co-producer
Tony Shimkin	....	producer

Original Music by
Rolfe Kent

Cinematography by
Daryn Okada

Film Editing by
Wendy Greene Bricmont

Casting by
Marci Liroff

Production Design by
Cary White

Art Direction by
Brandt Gordon

Set Decoration by
Patricia Cuccia

Costume Design by
Mary Jane Fort

Makeup Department
Mario Cacioppo	....	makeup artist
Carol Hartwick	....	hair stylist
Patricia Keighran	....	makeup artist
Diana Ladyshewsky	....	hair stylist
Jo-Ann MacNeil	....	makeup artist
Beatrice Salazar	....	assistant hair stylist (as Beatriz Salazar)
Linda Steeves	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Jim Powers	....	production manager (as James Powers)
Louise Rosner	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sarah Campbell	....	second assistant director
Joel Hay	....	third assistant director
Jordana Lieberman	....	trainee assistant director
Stephanie Moore	....	second assistant director: Chicago
Andrew Shea	....	first assistant director
José Clemente Hernandez	....	second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Collingwood Brown	....	art department coordinator
Britt Doughty	....	trainee assistant art director
Danielle Fleury	....	set dresser
Marc Kuitenbrouwer	....	construction manager
Glenn Locke	....	scenic artist
Vic Rigler	....	property master
Odetta Stoddard	....	set decoration buyer
Colin Woods	....	first assistant art director

Sound Department
Bruce Carwardine	....	sound mixer
Pat Cassin	....	second boom operator
Vincent Cirilli	....	ProTools engineer
Anne Couk	....	first assistant sound editor
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	re-recording mixer (as Patrick Cyccone)
Marc Fishman	....	re-recording mixer
Galen Goodpaster	....	assistant sound editor
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Susan Kurtz	....	dialog editor
Susan Kurtz	....	sound editor
Chuck Michael	....	supervising sound editor
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Willard Overstreet	....	foley editor
Vic Radulich	....	adr editor
Christopher Sidor	....	sound recordist
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Frank Smathers	....	sound editor
Beth Sterner	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Ulrich	....	supervising adr editor
Markus Wade	....	boom operator
David Yonson	....	adr recordist: Toronto

Special Effects by
Rob Sanderson	....	special effects director

Visual Effects by
Chris Anderson	....	roto/paint artist: CIS Hollywood
Kim Boyle	....	visual effects producer: CIS Hollywood
Jeremy Burns	....	digital compositing supervisor: CIS Hollywood
Steven Fagerquist	....	visual effects compositing artist
Larry Gaynor	....	senior paint artist: CIS Hollywood
Bryan Hirota	....	visual effects supervisor: CIS Hollywood
Patrick Kavanaugh	....	compositor: CIS Hollywood
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist
Heather MacPhee	....	paint and rotoscope artist: CIS Hollywood
Marc Nanjo	....	compositor: CIS Hollywood
Gregory Oehler	....	senior Inferno artist: CIS Hollywood
Chris Allen	....	research & development supervisor: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Matt Ashton	....	systems: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Jayni Borgaro	....	paint and roto artist: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Donald Fly	....	general manager: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Julia Gaudette	....	visual effects coordinator: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Maryjane Layani	....	production accountant: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Kyle Yamamoto	....	research and development programmer: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)

Stunts
Nada Abdel-Shahid	....	stunt performer
Taryn Ash	....	stunts
Laurene Boutet	....	stunts (as Lauren Boutette)
Randi Lee Butcher	....	stunts
Erin Carter	....	stunts
Natalie Cultraro	....	stunts
Sandra Feldman	....	stunts
Kym Kristalie	....	stunts
Angelique Lewis	....	stunts (as Angel Lewis)
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Billy Oliver	....	stunts
Chauntelle Page	....	stunts
Colleen Park	....	stunts
Vlasta Racki	....	stunts
Alison Reid	....	stunts
Kevin Rushton	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Shayna Segal	....	stunt double
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Rebecca Stoneham	....	stunts (as Rebcca Moore)
Bryan Thomas	....	stunts
Christine Thomas	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Carella	....	camera operator
Angelo Colavecchia	....	camera operator
Mark Cyre	....	first assistant camera
Tim Davis	....	video assist operator
Cylvan Desrouleaux	....	assistant camera
Richard Emerson	....	key grip
Michael Galbraith	....	gaffer
Mark W. Hindle	....	video playback operator
Jim MacCammon	....	electrician
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
Michael Plant	....	generator operator
Keith Pokorski	....	second assistant camera: Chicago
Ron Renzetti	....	dolly grip: "b" camera

Casting Department
Ruthie Brownfield	....	casting assistant
Dane Clark	....	casting assistant: Canada
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Canada
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Brad Gerstl	....	extras casting representative
Danis Goulet	....	casting associate: Canada
Sharon D. King	....	extras casting: local
Erica Palgon	....	casting associate: New York
Jamie Sparer Roberts	....	casting associate (as Jamie Sparer)
Susan Shopmaker	....	casting: New York
Aaron Unrau	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ciara Brennan	....	assistant costume set supervisor
Christina Cattle	....	set costume supervisor
Jordanna Fineberg	....	assistant costume designer
Gayle Franklin	....	costumer: extras
Dana Kay Hart	....	costume supervisor
Mary Iannelli	....	costumer (as Mary White)
Lindsay Jacobs	....	costume supervisor
Luis Sequeira	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Gena Bleier	....	assistant editor
Kris Cole	....	first assistant editor
Brian Day	....	assistant editor
Robert Doyle	....	assistant editor
Dana E. Glauberman	....	additional editor
Chas Hollis	....	assistant editor
Russell Langille	....	second assistant editor
Dave Muscat	....	telecine suite operator
David Tarnawsky	....	first assistant film editor: Canada

Music Department
Tony Blondal	....	orchestrator
Stephen Coleman	....	music arranger: vocals
Stephen Coleman	....	music programmer
Buck Damon	....	music supervisor
Jim Harrison	....	music editor
Steve Kempster	....	score mixer
Stephanie Murray	....	score stage administrator
Ralph Sall	....	executive soundtrack album producer
Amanda Scheer-Demme	....	music supervisor
Nick South	....	music editor
Patrick Spain	....	score assistant engineer

Transportation Department
Ron Annabelle	....	picture car captain
Dave Staples	....	transportation coordinator
Ian C. Harris	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Darleen Abbott	....	payroll assistant
Alex Betuel	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Adam Bocknek	....	production assistant (as Adam 'Bucky' Bocknek)
Annette Brooker	....	production assistant
Veronica Brooks	....	assistant: Mr. Waters
Christopher Comrie	....	payroll accountant
Erin David	....	assistant: Mr. Michaels
Andrea Eisen	....	set tutor
Donna Feore	....	choreographer
Julie Garneau	....	production secretary
Jason Haney	....	on-set craft
Marie-Claude Harnois	....	production coordinator
Karen Harrison	....	assistant: Ms. Messick
Joanne T. Harwood	....	script supervisor
Mindy May Jenkins	....	first assistant accountant
Lenita Karhunen	....	assistant: Ms. Rosner
Karen Pidgurski	....	publicist
Bobby Ravanshenas	....	assistant to cast
David M. Rodriguez	....	first assistant accountant
Raquel Rose	....	production assistant
Barbara Rosing Hoke	....	production coordinator: additional photography, Los Angeles
Kevin Michael Schembri	....	second assistant accountant
Andrew Sehler	....	second assistant accountant
Gerrod Shully	....	production assistant
Jonathan Small	....	assistant: Mr. Michaels
Bob Tennent	....	production assistant
Matilde Valera	....	production controller
Jason M. Washington	....	production assistant
Greg Wood	....	set nurse
Michalla Petersen	....	voice-over artist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• M.G. Films
• Broadway Video

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures Corporation (Canada) (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Finnkino (2005) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• CIS Hollywood (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Howard Anderson Company, The  end titles
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals
• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  cast appearance booking
• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  special thanks
• Mary Nelson-Fraser & Associates  negative cutting
• Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M  music recorded at
• Paramount Studios  sound post-production
• Picture Mill, The  main titles
• R!ot Looping  adr recording
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio
• Virgin Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Méchantes ados (Canada: French title)
Queen Bees and Wannabes (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and some teen partying.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English | German | Vietnamese | Swahili

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-7 | Germany:6 | India:A | Ireland:12PG | Netherlands:12 | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | Germany:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Convocation Hall, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Tim Meadows broke his hand before shooting and had to wear a cast, so the explanation that his character Mr. Duvall had carpal tunnel was added.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the mathletes are talking after the competition, Cady's hair changes from being behind her back to being on her shoulder between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Chip Heron: This is your lunch, OK? I put a dollar in there so you can buy some milk; you can ask one of the big kids where to do that.
Betsy Heron: Do you remember your phone number? I wrote it down for you just in case. Put it in your pocket, I don't want you to lose it. OK? You ready?
Cady: I think so.

Movie Connections:

Features Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

Soundtrack:

Psyche Rock (Fatboy Slim Malpaso Mix)

Best Teen Movie since 'Clueless'?

I have to admit that despite being a straight, 22 year old guy I have always had a weakness for teen films so I was looking forward to Lindsay Lohan's (who really impressed me in 'Freaky Friday' and the much underrated 'Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen') latest.

It exceeded my expectations.

Lindsay is on great form, instantly likable as Cady and believable both as a regular girl and a "regulation hottie". This girl is one of the best comic actresses of her generation and has created a fully rounded character it is difficult not to root for. Not that she carries the film alone.

Of the adults Tim Meadows does sterling work in translating his character with relatively few lines. Neil Flynn (familiar as the Janitor from 'Scrubs') is even better with some great facial expressions as a father as much at sea in suburban America as his daughter. As for Tina Fey... a terrific performance of course and she is still as cute as she was on Saturday Night Live but where she really shines is in the screenplay which sounds real enough (at least for a teen film) and has some razor sharp areas (like Coach Carr's 'lessons').

Of course the key group is the titular Mean Girls themselves - Regina (Rachel McAdams), Gretchen (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried). Rachel McAdams creates a memorable High School tyrant, malicous, power mad and cruel but not entirely virtue free. She'd screw you over in a heartbeat if you stepped on her turf, but the nonthreatening Gretchen is allowed some reward for loyalty. Gretchen herself, played by the delectable Lacey Chabert is a character of her own, not just a cardboard minion to follow orders. Neurotic, shallow, desperate, beautiful, loyal and rather uncertain she is perhaps the saddest and most sympathetic of the Plastics - a girl who certainly has the looks and money to make it to the top of the pyramid but who lacked the will or the certainty. Not a problem with Karen (Amanda Seyfried) who has an admirable certainty of herself and her abilities. In one of the films best lines after a telling off from Regina, Cady tries to comfort her:

Cady: You're not stupid, Karen.

To which Karen replies thoughtfully (without a hint of bitterness or anger):

Karen: No, I am, actually. I'm failing everything.

Indeed she is. Karen is an airhead, and if not actively proud of it, at least accepting. She doesn't seem cruel herself, possibly because she is simply too shallow and dense, but she doesn't seem a bad person. Which for the second minion (Gretchen outranks her) to the villainous is quite a remarkable achievement.

Finally I must mention Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Franzese as Janice and Damian respectively, the outsiders we are rooting for, in theory. They do good work, though I found them slightly dry next to the endlessly dysfunctional Plastics (though that may be something to do with me finding Lacey Chabert much more attractive than Daniel Franzese!)

Overall a very good piece of work from all concerned. If you like teen movies then you'll find this a very good one. If you don't, well hold your nose and try it anyway, you might be pleasantly surprised!