Lindsay Lohan brings on her usual
Parent Trap/
Freaky Friday charm. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well, including a slew of
Saturday Night Live veterans. In addition to great acting, the movie also has some refreshingly funny moments, and a
Sex and the City-like interview style of filmmaking. More importantly, it's brutally honest in its White person perspective of high school (the Asians are together, the Blacks are together, but we White people aren't "together"; we're people in different groups--burnouts, jocks, art students, etc.). Tina Fey, no doubt guided by the non-fiction book on which the movie's based (
Queen Bees and Wannabees) and her own experiences in high school, has written a script keenly aware of the real struggles of high school identity and the classroom experience. Unfortunately, the film suffers from bad pacing and a lack of transitions. There is no moment to breathe where characters can be alone and quiet for even one moment. Also, the change from "real" to "plastic" (which you'll understand if you watch the movie) is too sudden and seems unwarranted. Cady (Lohan's character) seems unconvincingly loyal to friends who give her a hard time and whom she has known only a day--their "friendship" isn't well established. If you don't like well-developed stories but are just looking for a few good laughs and a mental trip back to high school craziness, go see this one. Even if you're not, you may want to catch a cheap matinee--just keep your expectations low.
--A.Y.