10 years on: Why we still love ‘Mean Girls’

Today marks ten years since the release of Mean Girls – a colourful ride through the bitchy teen world we’d much rather be watching from the outside. And boy have we. The film has attained cult classic status, not just adored by gay audiences who religiously attend quote-along screenings, but in the wider comedy-loving world too.

Of course it has predecessors – 1988’s Heathers with a young Winona Ryder, or Clueless, the iconic 1995 comedy starring Alicia Silverstone. Every generation indulges in its own high school world of cliques, teen style and put-downs. In 2004, we got ours care of the wit and wisdom of Tina Fey. The Saturday Night Live star (who went on to front hugely the successful 30 Rock) got the idea for Mean Girls from a self-help book called Queen Bees and Wannabes – about the psychology of teenage girls. Pretty serious stuff. Lucky for all of us, Tina saw the funny side.

It’s on account of her comic talent that the world of Mean Girls is so ridiculous and yet instantly relatable to many. Never mind Lord Of The Rings, her script has inspired a language all of its own.  I recently interviewed quite a serious middle-aged novelist who quoted “Stop trying to make fetch happen” at me. I’ve had friends who’ve had horrible experiences with their favourite celebrities, giving them a “One time, she punched me in the face, it was awesome” moment. Then of course there’s “If you’re from Africa, why are you white?” and “She doesn’t even go here”, which can be used for multiple purposes, yet everyone knows exactly what you mean.

As for “Why are you so obsessed with me?” – Mariah Carey made it into a song, people! But as much as gay men love a camp film to quote extensively from (see also: Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, Showgirls), the buck hasn’t stopped there. Mean Girls has made an undeniable stake in the vernacular, more so than any comparable films. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that is has become as quoted as Friends – a show which ran for over a decade. It just sticks.

Why else do gay men love this movie? Well, there’s Lindsay Lohan herself. There’s something about this troubled child actress that appeals to us. We’ve known her her whole life; loved her in The Parent Trap back then, and envy her extensive ‘list’ now. Many may find her trashy, but she’s got the makings of the type of fragile diva we love forever. Mean Girls captures her in happier times – like Michael Jackson singing I’ll Be There, or Judy Garland in The Wizard Of Oz (OK, that’s strong, but just go with it). There’s an innocence to her performance, a vulnerability that we imagine is not just her character Cady’s, but Lohan’s too. We get nostalgic for who she used to be, and we’re still rooting for you girl.

But enjoying Mean Girls doesn’t have to be all superficial shits and giggles. There’s a strong gay presence in Janis and Damian, who get to be the ‘we were always here for you’ characters, who see through the madness of the teen hierarchy, and remind Cady of who she really is. Plus, there’s an allegory of sorts. As gay men, we often come to high school a bit like Cady – outsiders, unsure of ourselves. Sadly, to get through it, we sometimes become a bit of a Regina George – or worse. And I’m not just talking about school here; the gay scene can be easily divided into the kind of closed-entry clans that are mocked in the movie. So if you’re a plastic yourself, spread the love: let the white African join.

The only thing that could really make Mean Girls more gay is a musical – and lucky for all of us, it’s happening; apparently with the involvement of Kathy Bates as writer, and Tina Fey’s husband Jeff Richmond as composer. Whether or not that sees the light of day, and regardless of whether it’s any good, Mean Girls will always live in the hearts and minds, and DVD players, of gay men around the world.

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