Mean Girls 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Mean Girls" is commendable, though not without imperfections. The film, shot on Arri Alexa cameras at 4.6K resolution and transferred to a 4K digital intermediate, boasts a solid 2160p image quality. It maintains the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and leverages the HEVC codec for efficient compression. The Dolby Vision HDR enhances the color spectrum significantly, amplifying bolder colors, brighter whites, and deeper blacks, enhancing the overall tonal brilliance. Notably, the pinks and other primary hues become particularly vibrant, especially during the musical numbers and scenes set in vividly painted locations. While clarity is generally superb, fine details in facial features and clothing textures are well-presented, though there's a mild softness to the image and some minor digital noise that occasionally detracts from the glossiness.

Textural gains in this UHD presentation are evident but not transformational compared to its Blu-ray counterpart. The image showcases strong detail and sharpness, especially in close-ups of faces and various classroom elements. However, distant details and certain CGI scenes exhibit a softness that may disappoint those expecting a crisper, more defined visual experience. The black levels are deep and inky, providing excellent contrast and depth in night scenes and during specular highlights in more dynamic sequences. Skin tones are rendered naturally with healthy warmth, thanks to the Dolby Vision grading that avoids oversaturation.

Overall, while "Mean Girls" on 4K UHD Blu-ray offers an appreciable improvement over the standard Blu-ray with its enhanced color grading and good detail rendition, it falls short of being a showcase example of the format. It refines rather than revolutionizes, with consistent performance across varied scenes but occasional lapses in achieving the ultimate sharpness and clarity that enthusiasts might seek in a top-tier UHD release.

The UHD release of "Mean Girls" features an impressive Dolby Atmos audio track, a somewhat unexpected enhancement for a comedy musical. Contrary to initial assumptions, the Atmos track delivers a robust and immersive auditory experience. The mix maximizes the extensive use of music throughout the film, with over 45 minutes dedicated to various musical numbers. Vocals are crisply centered at the front, while rear and overhead speakers actively engage, especially during intense scenes like Regina and Aaron's party, where surround channels excel in creating a powerful and enveloping soundstage.

The Atmos mix extends beyond mere musical elements, adding a sense of fullness and spatial awareness that enhances everyday scenes like school hallways and cafeterias. Subtle overhead usage complements traditional surround wrap elements, ensuring environmental audio components reshape seamlessly into the overall listening experience without overwhelming discrete use. Depth is also added through concentrated yet subtle ambient noises such as bells and idle chatter. Even during quieter moments, dialogue remains clear and lifelike, maintaining consistent prioritization and focus.

A significant highlight of the mix includes utilizing the height channels to foster an immersive environment, particularly during songs that generate significant low-frequency thumps and rich bass accents at peak moments. Musical interludes integrate front, center, side, rear, and height channels seamlessly, creating a constant state of auditory stimulation. This results in a dynamic and engaging audio presentation that is both comprehensive and immersive for fans of the genre. Overall, this Dolby Atmos track ensures a comprehensive audio engagement with precise vocal clarity and dynamic musical representation, making it a standout feature of this 4K release.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Mean Girls" boasts an extensive array of extras. Notably, it includes a digital copy code but lacks a Blu-ray version, shipping with a non-embossed slipcover. Extras range from insightful featurettes on the incorporation of social media and musical elements in the new adaptation to engaging behind-the-scenes content, gag reels, and music videos. The extras offer fans a thorough dive into the film's modern reimagining, highlighting the collaborative efforts of the cast and crew. Although some may find the featurettes brief, they provide valuable context and entertaining content that complements the main feature. Particularly appealing is the sing-along mode, which allows viewers to engage with the film’s musical numbers interactively.

Extras included in this disc:

• A New Age of Mean Girl: Tina Fey, the cast, and crew discuss the new film in the social media era.
• Song and Dance: Behind-the-scenes look at the musical numbers.
• The New Plastics: Insights from the new cast about their roles and memories of the original film.
• Gag Reel: Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Not My Fault – Music Video with Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion.
• Extended Scene – I'm Having a Small Get Together at My House.
• Mean Girls Sing-Along with Select Songs.

The 2024 remake of Mean Girls transitions the beloved 2004 classic into a contemporary musical format. Maintaining the core narrative while updating to reflect modern high school dynamics—including social media and cyberbullying—the film attempts to blend the traditional plot with new, energetic musical numbers. Despite these efforts, the musical elements sometimes detract from the pacing, turning a brisk 90-minute satire into a nearly two-hour film. The story follows Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) navigating the treacherous social waters of North Shore High School, ultimately finding herself entrenched in the elite 'Plastics' clique led by the magnetic but ruthless Regina George (Renee Rapp).

While the update allows for more depth in certain characters—particularly Regina and Janis—the film struggles to balance its identity, often replicating scenes from the original without adding enough new substance. The performances are generally solid, with Renee Rapp bringing a commanding presence to Regina George, and Auli’i Cravalho (Janis) and Jaquel Spivey (Damian) injecting freshness into their roles. However, the new iteration feels constrained by its need to parallel its predecessor closely while also trying to modernize, leading to moments that feel overly familiar.

Musical numbers such as "I’d Rather Be Me" stand out for their catchy tunes and relevant themes, whereas others contribute to an extended runtime that may not be justified. While Tina Fey’s updated writing reflects on current societal issues effectively, the film’s attempt to stage it as a musical does not resonate as strongly on screen as it might have on stage. Overall, Mean Girls 2024 offers a vibrant yet somewhat redundant remix of a modern classic, appealing primarily to younger audiences who can relate more directly to its updated setting.

"Mean Girls 2024" seeks to honor its predecessor by closely mirroring the 2004 classic, while infusing contemporary musical elements and references to the social media age. The film's strengths lie in its high-quality technical delivery, boasting a spectacular 4K Ultra HD transfer with vibrant Dolby Vision imaging and an immersive Dolby Atmos audio track. Paramount ensures that cinephiles are well catered to with a robust array of bonus features, which, although somewhat superficial, provide added value for devoted fans.

However, the film struggles to carve out a unique identity. Hyperbolic performances and musical numbers stretch the runtime without necessarily enriching the narrative. This adaptation feels more like an attempt to replicate past successes rather than establishing a new, standalone story. While some viewers, especially those unfamiliar with the original, may find it relevant and engaging, long-time fans might see it differently. Lena Fey’s legendary script remains enchanting even in this new format, but one might argue that the added length serves only to dilute its once-sharp wit.

In conclusion, "Mean Girls 2024" tries too hard to replicate the lightning-in-a-bottle scenario of "Mean Girls 2004," struggling to gain its own identity. Certain parts were fascinating and unique, but the over-reliance on near word-for-word imitation leaves little room for originality. The 4K UHD looks and sounds very good, with a decent array of extras as well (which is surprising, as extras have been getting slimmer and slimmer every year). Fans of the movie may want to give it a shot; it’s an interesting watch and will really be dependent on how much you love the original.

Recommendation: Interesting Watch