Mean Girls has made its return. After 20 years, a new version of Mean Girls has hit the theaters. Rather than a full remake, this new film is more of an adaptation of the Broadway musical version.  

The original movie that was released in 2004 was applauded for after viewers saw the original Regina George, Rachel McAdams, as an icon. In the new Mean Girls, Reneé Rapp, who played Regina on Broadway, plays her on the big screen.

“She’s a really great young actress,” junior Lyric Patino said, “she is a very very good actor and she was great as Regina.”

Although these two women played the same characters, they played them very differently. Regina stays the same way throughout the entirety of the original movie. In the remake, Rapp recreates her as a more loving and delicate person.

 “I loved the way Reneé Rapp played Regina,” junior Audra Rogers said. “I love how she humanized her a little bit, but still gave us the sass we know and adore.”

“The love for the new take wasn’t possessed by all, seeing her {Reneé Rapp} perform on Broadway she was amazing, but in the movie, they really toned down the characters and I felt like it took away some of the charm that was in the original Broadway,” Patino said.

There were many differences that audience members noticed, but did not like. Especially people with an interest in theater who know the energy of the Broadway version. Patino felt as though there was less of the charm that was in the Broadway and original movie versions. 

“They were holding back, and I think that takes away from the potential to be as good as it could have been.” Patino said. 

The new Mean Girls movie contained the same major plot points but was also different in many ways. A few of the beloved songs had been cut:.

• It Roars
• Where Do You Belong
• Fearless
• Stop
• What’s Wrong With Me (reprise)
• Whose House Is This
• More Is Better
• Someone Gets Hurt (reprise)
• Do This Thing

Although there were some large differences, the movie was very successful once it hit theaters. Within the first three days, the box office made approximately 2.8 million dollars. 

“I thought it was really good. There were a lot of high points and I found myself laughing a lot,” Rogers said.

Even though it was a well-put-together movie, compared yet again to the original, many found it to have missed marks and untapped potential. 

“There’s no way this movie could have come near the original. It tried so hard, but it couldn’t.” Rogers said.

The actor who played the main protagonist, Cady Heron, was a major concern from the public. It was expressed that she may not have the vocals for Cady’s songs. Which resulted in the songs being very much altered or overall cut. The same concern was there with the actor who played Aaron Samuels. 

“I didn’t mind the changes of continuity, but the personalities of the characters were missing,” Patino said.

The new musical version of the movie was a new and creative take. After 20 years, Regina George remains to be a loved icon despite the multiple opinions about the new movie it is worth the watch. 

“I liked it,” Rogers said, “I feel like they stayed very true to the story without it being a carbon copy of the original film. I enjoyed the new elements but still got the same ‘Mean Girls hot-mess’ feeling.”