You ever get the feeling the older you get, the younger your crushes get?
(Note: yeah, I know someone just posted this on the Guilty Pleasures article, and I'm not trying to be a copycat, so bear with me).
An example: Lindsay Lohan. She's barely 18. I'm almost 32. That's (does quick math) 14 years between us. I could (although logistically it would be impossible) technically be her father. I feel like a dirty old man. I'd go make a confession but I'm not Catholic. So I've decided to do it here.
I don't know what your feelings on Lindsay are, but I happen to think she's... of more than average appearance (and I already used "frikkin' hot" in another article, so I'm trying to not repeat myself). I don't even really care that this makes me sound a bit superficial.
But whatever. On with the show.
SPOILERS FOLLOW:
At first, "Mean Girls" treats itself much like "The Breakfast Club" meets "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen." Lindsay plays Cady Heron, a fish out of water if there ever was one. She's a home-schooled girl entering high school for the first time. Cady has a few problems fitting in, but eventually makes some friends. Then, she's adopted by "The Plastics" - wonderfully played by Rachel McAdams (Regina George), Lacey Chabert (Gretchen Wieners) and Amanda Seyfried (Karen Smith). Cady must then decide between her true best friends - other great performances given by Lizzy Caplan (Janis Ian) and Daniel Franzese (Damian) - and "The Plastics." Eventually, Cady comes to her senses when she figures out that the ringleader of "The Plastics," Regina, is not her true friend. A plot against Regina ensues, with mixed results. Ironically, Cady ends up being the scapegoat for Regina and thus her friendship with Janis is put into question, with it all culminating in Cady being an outcast once again. It's an interesting, complex plot that has a lot more than what one might see on the surface (which is the precise point of this whole movie: being willing to look beneath the surface). A few awkward points include a sublpot involving two high school students having an affair with a teacher, and the entire deal with Cady deciding to take the heat for causing the problems at the school. You'd have to watch it to really understand.
It's great that Tina Fey's screenplay gave the actors something to work with. That Fey herself is a character (she plays Ms. Norbury) in the movie is a welcome, and oftentimes humorous and insightful, addition. Moreover, it's nice that Cady can rely on Ms. Norbury for that mentor role. Overall, I'd say "Mean Girls" is an intriguing glance at high school, and the inevitible heirarchy that comes with it.