Based on the Broadway musical (which is based on the 2004 movie, which is based on a book), this yet-another rehash sparkles, sure, and has many of the same feels and fun as the original, but what was truly groundbreaking way back when now seems (sadly) kinda like an ordinary high school day in these times (plus singing and dancing, of course). Reneé Rapp (as Regina George) hits it out of the park, reprising her stage role, and Angourie Rice has plenty in the tank as outsider-turned-queen-bee Cady Heron, but it’s Avantika who steals every scene as Karen Shetty. It’s fairly fetch (if you’ll excuse the vernacular), but may just make you want to revisit the original instead of appreciating it on its own.

3.5/5 stars