Most people are familiar with the 2004 movie about the sweet innocent teen (Angourie Rice) who enters a new high school. She’s introduced to the cliques, including the Plastics, the titular group with haughty attitudes and fabulous clothes (not so much this time). The machinations she goes thru to gain status cause all manner of stress. There are regular gags that elicit laughs with Jaquel Spivey (the very gay friend) and Avantika (the ditzy Plastic) bringing the best comic moments. This film is based on the Broadway musical version and it features 2 songs in the first 5 minutes. Additional numbers keep interrupting the flow and sound similar with unmemorable melodies and flashy staging. What’s missing is an outrageous approach that would have made this new version an enjoyable shocker. Even though it has been updated with modern references, this movie is lively remake full of fun energy but not much new. 
(3 / 5)