Mean Girls 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 87
from 7 reviewers
Review Date:
The new 4K UHD release of 'Mean Girls' presents a substantial video upgrade with Dolby Vision, though the audio remains unchanged; a solid addition for fans.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 90
Mean Girls' 20th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-ray features a substantial upgrade over previous releases with a newly mastered 4K transfer, Dolby Vision HDR, and HEVC/H.265 encoding, enhancing color richness, clarity, and detail while maintaining natural skin tones and solid black levels, despite minor occasional softness and grain inconsistencies.
Audio: 86
Mean Girls' 4K UHD Blu-ray reuses the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix, offering clear, center-focused dialogue and vibrant music with mild surround activity. While front-heavy and lacking immersive qualities, it maintains good clarity and sufficient dynamic range. A solid but unexceptional audio experience.
Extra: 81
The 20th Anniversary 4K UHD release of 'Mean Girls' retains all previous supplements, adding a new, albeit promotional, retrospective featurette. Commentary by Waters, Fey, and Michaels is informative yet at times simplistic. Additional extras include featurettes, bloopers, deleted scenes, interstitials, and a trailer.
Movie: 86
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Mean Girls" remains faithful to its 2004 charm with splendid 2160p/Dolby Vision visuals, retaining the original Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio and legacy extras. The film, a cultural phenomenon written by Tina Fey, blends sharp, witty humor with satirical insights into high school life, still resonating after 20 years.
Video: 90
The 20th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Mean Girls" presents a significantly enhanced video experience compared to its previous Blu-ray versions. This new transfer, while not redefining the benchmark for catalog releases, is a notable upgrade, delivering a cleaner, more refined visual experience. The 2160p resolution paired with Dolby Vision HDR showcases a vivid and warm color palette, adhering closely to the film's original cinematography. Characters and locations now exhibit sharper, more defined details, from the intricate textures of fabrics and facial close-ups to the varied environments of Regina's luxurious home and the high school’s well-trodden halls. The light grain structure has been visibly improved, ensuring a stable and organic image without the aliasing and DNR issues found in earlier Blu-ray masters.
Technical aspects shine as the High Dynamic Range (HDR) grades breathe new life into the film's visuals. Dolby Vision enhancements contribute to richer, deeper colors and improved brightness and contrast levels, though some mild black crush and creamy whites are occasionally noticeable. Despite minor instances of softness and an overall simplicity in its original cinematography, "Mean Girls" portrays bolder reds and vibrant pinks with striking intensity. Shadow details remain strong, maintaining solid black levels across diverse settings, from vibrant exteriors to dimly lit scenes. This meticulous attention to color fidelity means the iconic bubblegum aesthetics are more pronounced than ever.
The presentation of "Mean Girls" in this 4K UHD format stands out by maintaining the film’s essence while substantially elevating its visual quality. The enhanced clarity in close-ups and wide shots enhances viewer engagement, showcasing the distinct visual elements like Regina's bedspread textures or the intricate classroom backgrounds. This is a commendable release from Paramount, offering fans and newcomers alike a more visually gratifying experience than previous iterations.
Audio: 86
The audio presentation of the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Mean Girls" carries over the existing English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the previous Blu-rays. The mix is solid, but not exceptional, primarily focusing on the front soundstage. Dialogue is clean and clear, precisely centered, which ensures that the pithy exchanges are always intelligible. The front channels handle the hustle and bustle of high school life effectively, with musical ambiance filtering through the surround channels. The music, particularly the pop tracks, gets a good amount of breathing room and is complemented by tepid but detectable low-frequency emphasis.
While the soundtrack offers decent dynamics and a touch of bass to accentuate selected songs, it doesn't venture into highly immersive territory. Surround sound usage is light, mainly limited to ambient effects during busy sequences like school functions or parties. The mix delivers a fair dimensional perspective and average depth but is predominantly front-heavy and doesn't fully exploit the potential of surround sound capabilities. Larger active scenes such as animal fantasy interludes, gym sequences, or fire alarms provide some dimension and imaging but not to a remarkable extent.
Overall, the audio track is dependable and does everything well enough without presenting any revolutionary or groundbreaking elements. The blend of music, voices, and sound effects is rendered with excellent clarity and maintains balance without ever sounding thin or dynamically starved. However, one might feel that a potential upgrade to a Dolby Atmos track could have added more immersion and excitement to the overall auditory experience.
Extra: 81
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Mean Girls" predominantly reissues the same extras from earlier Blu-ray versions, complementing them with a new featurette. The highlight is "Mean Girls: Class of '04," where Tina Fey and the cast of the upcoming film revisit the original, though it serves more as a promotion for the new movie. The audio commentary by Mark Waters, Tina Fey, and Lorne Michaels offers both casual observations and insightful production anecdotes. Fans will also find substantial content in the featurettes, blooper reel, and deleted scenes with optional commentary. The extras list provides a comprehensive deep dive into the film's enduring appeal and behind-the-scenes operations.
Extras included in this disc:
NEW! Mean Girls: Class of '04: Tina Fey and new cast reflect on the original film. Commentary with Director Mark Waters, Actor/Writer Tina Fey and Producer Lorne Michaels: Insightful and entertaining commentary. Only the Strong Survive: In-depth featurette on themes. The Politics of Girl World: Analysis of social dynamics. Plastic Fashion: Discussion on costume design. Word Vomit (Blooper Reel): Humorous outtakes. So Fetch - Deleted Scenes: Includes optional commentary. Interstitials: Short promotional clips. Theatrical Trailer: Original film trailer.
Movie: 86
"Mean Girls," directed by Mark Waters and scripted by Tina Fey, has firmly established itself as a culturally resonant comedy since its debut in 2004. This new release celebrates its anniversary with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray format, featuring a 2160p/Dolby Vision video specification while retaining the original Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the 2009 Blu-Ray release. The disc is accompanied by legacy extras and a newly added retrospective featurette, though it does not offer alternate packaging formats.
The plot centers around Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), who navigates the treacherous social waters of North Shore High after recently living in Africa and being homeschooled. Her induction into the high school jungle is guided by both social outcasts Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese), and the dominant clique known as The Plastics, led by Regina George (Rachel McAdams). Through sharp, witty humor and incisive commentary on the high school experience, "Mean Girls" raises critical questions about social dynamics and identity. It draws subtle comparisons to politically charged films like "Heathers," but remains distinct in its kinder, gentler satire grounded in real-life social challenges.
The performances are standouts: Lindsay Lohan captures Cady's innocence and subsequent transformation with adeptness, while Rachel McAdams delivers a memorable portrayal of the manipulative Regina George. Amanda Seyfried's role as Karen adds another layer of comic relief with her ditsy charm. Tim Meadows' role as the principal brings an additional layer of humor, resonant with anyone who has experienced the absurdities of high school. Despite its age, "Mean Girls" maintains relevance and continues to be a touchstone for both old fans and newcomers, offering not just laughs but a genuine reflection on the complexities of teenage life and social hierarchies.
Total: 87
Mean Girls, a standout in the high school Dramedy genre, continues to strike a chord even two decades post its release. Paramount's modern 4K UHD iteration shines with a notable uplift in video quality via its 2160p Dolby Vision transfer. This is a significant improvement over the original Blu-ray edition, though it doesn't quite reach demo-worthy brilliance. The legacy Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track returns, delivering an adequate, albeit unremarkable, auditory experience. Notably, the release retains all previously available extras and introduces a retrospective featurette, making it a comprehensive package for enthusiasts.
The film’s essence—capturing early 2000s high school culture with biting satire and memorable dialogue—remains intact and relatable. The visual upgrade does justice to Tina Fey’s sharp screenplay and Mark Waters' direction, enhancing everything from the iconic fashion to the nostalgic slang ("fetch"). What it lacks in groundbreaking audio, it compensates for with its vivid, clean visuals and an array of subtitles to cater to a global audience.
In conclusion, Mean Girls is not just a nostalgic trip but a cherished piece of high school cinema that has stood the test of time. This new 4K UHD release, despite its minor shortcomings in audio, offers fans a definitive version that balances fond memories with improved technical fidelity. A solid upgrade and an easy recommendation for any collection.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 80
The film isn’t perfect, with some shots showing minor softness, and the light grain layer weirdly still looks a bit chunky and uneven at times....
Audio: 70
The music is loud and aggressive, while the surrounds pick up the last modicum of activity with said music and the end spring fling scene....
Extras: 60
Class of '04 • Commentary with Director Mark Waters, Actor/Writer Tina Fey and Producer Lorne Michaels • Featurrettes -- Only the Strong Survive -- The Politics of Girl World -- Plastic Fashion • Word...
Movie: 70
All kidding aside, it’s great to see the classic Lindsey Lohan and Tina Fey comedy finally getting a new encode, and just in time for the remake....
Total: 70
It was sort of a modern day spiritual successor to Heathers (just without bombs, violence etc), and kind of a “locked in it’s time” when it comes to dialog (holy cow, some of the stuff said back then would...
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 80
The first thing most will notice here is the even, and light, grain structure which solidifies the film-based elements and offers a nice foundation upon which the UHD builds its wares, making for a fine...
Audio: 70
For this UHD release of Mean Girls, Paramount has simply brought over the existing Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack....
Extras: 50
So Fetch -- Deleted Scenes (1080p): With optional commentary by Director Mark Waters and Screenplay Writer & Actress Tina Fey....
Movie: 70
Rather than remix for Dolby Atmos, Paramount has simply included the existing Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the original 2009 Blu-ray....
Total: 70
The UHD includes the legacy 5.1 lossless soundtrack and carries over all of the legacy extras while adding a new retrospective featurette....
The Digital Bits review by Stephen BjorkRead review here
Video: 90
There’s not much information available about this 4K master, but it appears to be based on a scan of the original camera negative, digitally cleaned up and graded for High Dynamic Range in both Dolby Vision...
Audio: 85
The music is given plenty of space to breathe, with some kick in the low end to help keep the beat, and the pithy dialogue is always prioritized in the mix, clear as an azure sky of deepest summer....
Extras: 85
As the title implies, it’s really a thinly-veiled promotional featurette on behalf of the 2024 revamp, with the cast and crew of the new film looking back at the old one....
Movie: 75
In 1989, Daniel Waters contributed the script to Heathers, a film that flopped at the box office but quickly achieved cult movie glory, with savvy critics and fans alike recognizing it as the definitive...
Total: 84
The one new extra may not be that interesting, but it’s something, and at least Paramount isn’t following the Warner Bros. path of dropping old extras from new 4K releases....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
Freshly mastered – and Mean Girls was certainly due for it – the image here is wonderfully precise....
Audio: 80
A touch of bass accentuates the chosen songs, boomy enough to satisfy in a mix that doesn’t have much else to do....
Extras: 60
Same goes for the blooper reel, interstitials, and four deleted scenes (with optional commentary) round this one out....
Movie: 80
Clique The Plastics step to a bedroom mirror, critiquing their legs, hair, lips, and more....
Total: 75
Witty and observant, Mean Girls has satirical bite for days – or decades it turns out considering how long it’s persisted in pop culture....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
While the extra resolution is a benefit, it also highlights that the film itself just isn’t that visually interesting....
Audio: 60
Unless it’s an animal fantasy interlude, a big school function, or a very active sequence like the fire alarm or scenes at the gym, there’s not a lot of big immersive surround activity....
Extras: 60
It’s less of an appreciation for the original film as it is a selling point for the new film featuring the new creators and cast talking about the original Audio Commentary featuring Mark Waters, Tina...
Movie: 80
My teenage scholastic experiences were already weird enough, but outside of a few 80s comedies and the odd horror picture, I’ve never really felt the urge to revisit that period cinematically....
Total: 80
The film certainly looks better now than the old Blu-ray, but it’s not a very flashy demo-worthy presentation....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 90
Dynamic highlights are pretty scant however, HDR added a tangible visual element the emboldened colors as well as enriching both natural and artificial light....
Audio: 82
The blend of music, voices and sound effects through the front channel speakers was rendered with excellent clarity, limited but fair dimensional perspective and average depth....
Extras: 70
• Commentary by director Mark Waters, screenwriter and actress Tina Fey, and producer Lorne Michaels • Only the Strong Survive • The Politics of Girl World • Plastic Fashion • Word Vomit (Blooper Reel)...
Movie: 70
After living in Africa with her zoologist parents, Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) must brave the wilds of high school where she is taken under the wing of the popular girls, The Plastics, led by the cool and...
Total: 78
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 80
The drab school even has color pop!Black Levels: Blacks are spot on and contribute to the well-rounded color palette in the film....
Audio: 80
Music carries the most love for the subwoofer, with light sound effects coming through also....
Extras: 60
The release comes with a slipcover variant of the previously issued Steelbook edition and a hot pink amaray case....
Movie: 80
Seeing the trials and tribulation of kids and teens was already relatable to the young me, but as I get older, I find myself drawn to those awkward years with lots of empathy....
Total: 80
This new release is the one that looks and sounds the best, and at it’s price-point it’s a sure pickup for fans of the film who collect their films on disc....
Director: Mark Waters
Actors: Lindsay Lohan, Jonathan Bennett, Rachel McAdams
PlotCady Heron, a 16-year-old girl who has spent her entire life being homeschooled in Africa, moves to the United States and enrolls in a public high school for the first time. This transition introduces her to the complex social hierarchies and cliques that define high school life. She initially struggles to find her place, befriending social outcasts Janis and Damian, who guide her through the school's social landscape. Together, they concoct a plan to infiltrate the school's most exclusive and ruthless clique, The Plastics, led by the charming yet manipulative Regina George.
As Cady becomes more integrated into the group, her initial intentions begin to fade, and she starts to absorb the group's superficial values and backstabbing behavior. Her newfound popularity strains her relationships with Janis and Damian, and she slowly starts to lose sight of her true self. The dynamics within The Plastics and the broader school community lead to escalating tensions, prompting Cady to reevaluate her priorities and the consequences of her actions.
Writers: Rosalind Wiseman, Tina Fey
Release Date: 30 Apr 2004
Runtime: 97 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States, Canada
Language: English, German, Vietnamese, Swahili