Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Mean Girls

Here's my first attempt at participating in The Film Experience's Hit Me With Your Best Shot series!

When Mean Girls came out ten years ago, it took my middle school by storm. A trio of girls even declared themselves Karen, Gretchen, and Regina. I, however, did not see the film until just a couple of years ago. What can I say? I've lived a bit of a sheltered life. I guess that makes me a Cady (or Caddy, if you insist).

Of course when I finally did watch Mean Girls, I loved it. Not only is it exceedingly funny, it also manages to be one of the most true-to-life high school movies I've ever seen. At first, this seems a crazy thing to say, given the over-the-top style that pervades the movie. But all of the absurdity is grounded in truth. Can you really tell me that during your teen years, you never met a cool kid as sneaky as Regina George? A parent as desperate as her mother? A kid as obnoxious yet likeable as Kevin Gnapoor?

And then there's Cady, the sweet new girl. Or at least that's how she starts out. Once taken in by the Plastics, she goes through a twisted metamorphosis, transforming from gentle butterfly to stinging Queen Bee.

Midway through the movie, Cady has gone full-on Plastic: she's a two-faced social climber who cares more about her status than her family, friends, or grades. And she's not just maintaining a place among North Shore royalty, she's threatening to take over. Which brings me to my best shot.

The first still exemplifies the unspoken rivalry growing between Cady and Regina. The pair peek out of the crowd as they strut down the hall. Regina wears an icy expression of intimidation, unaware of Cady's unabashed smiles. She's reveling in her newfound "fame." And then, just like that, Regina's gone, hidden by a passerby. Cady stands out alone. She's got Karen and Gretchen by her side and her future "man candy" appearing to watch her from afar. She knows what she's doing. She's slowly pulling out the threads of Regina's life, waiting for it all to fall apart. And when it does, Cady will take her place. It's a quick shot, but one that cleverly foreshadows the mutiny that's about to take place.