 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Mean Girls 2
- Review Date: January 22, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Mildly amusing sequel follows same "be yourself" storyline.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this follow-up to the hit movie Mean Girls has all-new characters but still deals with always-relevant teen issues like popularity, sexuality, and status seeking. There's some relatively salty language -- especially "ass" and "bitch" -- and several references to high-school relationships, whether it's to a promiscuous girl who trades make-out sessions for homework or the "embarassment" of still being a virgin who's only kissed one boy. Consumerism and materialism are referred to on an ongoing basis, especially cars and fashion designers. The upside is that families who watch can have thorough discussions about the mean girls they've encountered themselves.
What's the story?
Jo Mitchell (Meaghan Martin) is perpetually the new girl in school. The daughter of a NASCAR mechanic (Linden Ashby), she's spending her senior year at North Shore High, her sixth school in four years. Usually, Jo keeps to herself, but when she stands up to a trio of girls who rule the school -- queen bee Mandi (Maiara Walsh), vapid sexpot Chastity (Claire Holt), and well-dressed germaphobe Hope (Nicole Gale Anderson) -- she finds herself the target of their mean-girl viciousness. Confusing matters is the class' wealthy wallflower, Abby (Jennifer Stone), whose rich father offers Jo college tuition in exchange for befriending Abby. Jo accepts the deal and winds up becoming best friends with Abby, falling for Mandi's sweet stepbrother Tyler (Diego Gonzalez Boneta) and eventually rivaling the Plastics for social control of the school.
Is it any good?
Like most teen-targeted, made-for-TV movies, MEAN GIRLS 2 has decent production values, veteran young actors, and a very predictable plot. Anyone who's seen the original Tina Fey-penned, Lindsay Lohan-starring comedy will know pretty much exactly what's happening from the opening credits. But Jo, unlike Lohan's Cady, doesn't become one of the Plastics; she creates her own Anti-Plastics clique that takes on the alpha girls. But otherwise, the clique's name is the same, the girls fall into the same exact stereotypes (one dim, promiscuou blond a la Amanda Seyfried and one high-strung, brunette fashionista like Lacey Chabert), and the story arc about the protagonist becoming a little too much like the Mean Girls is the same as well. It would have been better if the writers had come up with a more original story that didn't ape the original as much.
The actors are all small-screen alums who know the drill, and Tim Meadows reprises his role as a principal who kinda hates the students but can't really do anything to stop their appalling behavior. Parts of the movie are a bit ridiculous (what upper-middle-class school allows toy dogs or blatant bullying?), but it's the conversations this movie can inspire that make it worth checking out. Every school has its Mean Girls (and Mean Guys), and it's worthwhile to see this with your teens and tweens and then gauge how they handle clique worship and exclusivity. And if you haven't seen the original, definitely give it a go; it looks like a master class compared to this TV-fied version.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the "mean girls" phenomenon. How do your kids deal with them at their school?
In this movie, why do girls get called a "bitch" nastily if they have boyfriends or a "virgin" nastily if they haven't gone all the way? Is it OK to make fun of people for their sexual experience or lack thereof? Teens: What kinds of expectations are there around sexuality in your school?
The Plastics are materialistic and brand-obsessed. How do high-schoolers handle consumerism when it comes to cars and clothes -- especially if they can't afford to buy what's designer and trendy?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Regina George will never be taken over.....
of course I watched the first one and I loved it :D Then I found out that there was a Mean Girls 2. I just wanted to try it out.
It was very predictable and cheesy. It's one of those high school movies where the new girl becomes friends with the loser and they try and stop the mean girls. The new girl meets a guy (Of course and they fall in love.)
Mean girls reminds me of Middle School (I'm in middle school)
without the college part.
If this movie had no swearing, it would be a disney movie filled with all these disney characters.
So it sucked DX
I regret watching it.
Unless you like cheesy predictable unrealistic Highschool movies then you'll like it.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 7, 2011
AGE
I saw this when it premiered, and I liked it, probably the same amount as the first one. (Although this one is probably more appropriate for younger kids, not as much adult content) There were many funny parts, and I think there were some positive messages in there too. My only concern for younger children would be foul language and mild sexual content, although most of the more innapropriate snarky remarks would probably sail over the heads of younger children.
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AGE
No. God no. This is so bad.
If you liked the first one, you will HATE HATE HATE (I repeat, HATE) this one. It's not funny. The cattiness is annoying and stupid. The plot is pointless. Very predictable. The list goes on and on. If you actually like this movie, you most likely haven't seen the original. Disney, leave the good movies alone and remake crappy ones. Deal?
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AGE
Good movie, kids need to know how to discern from right and wrong though.
I thought this movie was entertaining and hilarious! I haven't seen the original Mean Girls, and don't ever intend to (Lindsey Lohan eeww). There were a few teens kissing (or making out depending on what you consider making out). Sure the acting was kinda bad, but I thought it was still pretty funny. Not the funniest I've seen, but still... A lot of language was used; b---- and a-- were the main ones, d--- was used frequently as well. I can't really say that the so-named "hero" was a good role model. Just because of her frequent language and poor choices. You need to be able to establish what's right from what's wrong if you plan on watching this movie, and also being able to understand why it was a good or bad choice.
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AGE
STAY AWAY.
Mean girls 2-- AKA Tina Fey's best movie destroyed.
It follows a couple of stick figure girls and their quest to be popular. The main character is actually more annoying and nasty then the mean girls in the film who dress like 5 year old Sunday School goers. The original Mean Girls were witty and fun to watch torture people. They were an exaggerated real portrayel of the girls we hated in Junior high and High school! This movie had some no-no words but that didn't stop it from being Disney channel trash. It just oozed the feeling I was watching an episode of Hannah Montana. Jokes sucked, the acting sucked worse no memorable lines. Oh lord. And the main character for some reason is worshiped because she is a virgin. Who cares? Just...just don't.
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Kid, 12 years old
March 14, 2011
AGE
love it
I LOVED it!!!!!! It was really better than the last one........it wasn't more disturbing than the last one.
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AGE
Good chick flick but totally unrealistic
I was surprisingly pleased with this movie. It wasn't trying to be the first movie at all and it was nice to see former Disney and Nickelodeon stars move on to something a little more adult but not taking a huge jump like Miley Cyrus did. It was a very typical teen chick flick, something to watch at a slumber party. This is one of those major exagerations of high school life though. The girls are mean to an extent that you don't see in daily life and thank God. I wonder about middle school viewers though because, from watching movies, I was very nervous to get to high school, but once I did I was like "oh that was stupid". So just be sure that people don't take this too much to heart. High school is about finding yourself though and I think this is a perfect example of what not to do.
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AGE
I watched this movie when i was home sick and loved it. The First one was a little bit better but enjoyed it. The movie was realistic because alot of girls do this at my school to girls can relate to it.
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AGE
This movie i would say will be fine for kids,,but mostley for teens. No violence just pranks and they do not handle things in fights. No cursing. The only sexual behavior in this movie was a kiss. This movie sets a positive message because it tells children you shoulnt handle situation in fight to win.
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| Studio: | Paramount Famous |
| Director: | Melanie Mayron |
| Cast: | Jennifer Stone, Meaghan Jette Martin, Tim Meadows |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| DVD release date: | February 1, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some rude and suggestive material, and for language |
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