Mean Girls

Mean Girls has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on BINGE and Paramount Plus, and in the US on Paramount Plus Premium and Kanopy. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 9,527 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Lindsay Lohan — stay for everyone else around them. Put it on tonight on BINGE and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Mean Girls is worth clearing space for. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Mean Girls from the crowd. Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George. Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams lead a cast that never overplays a joke. Mean Girls came out in 2004. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Mean Girls holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Mean Girls respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Lindsay Lohan's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.