''Mean Girls 2'' is a 2011 American

teen comedy A teen situation comedy, or teen sitcom, is a subgenre of comedic television program targeted towards young people. In general, these type of programs focus primarily on characters between 11 and 19 years of age and routinely feature characters inv ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

directed by

Melanie Mayron Melanie Joy Mayron is an American actress and director of film and television. Mayron is best known for her role as photographer Melissa Steadman on the ABC drama ''thirtysomething'' for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sup ...

, and serves as a sequel to the 2004 film ''

Mean Girls ''Mean Girls'' is a 2004 American teen comedy film directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey. The film stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried (in her film debut), Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler and Fe ...

''. The film premiered on

ABC Family The American cable television, cable and satellite television network that is now known as Freeform (TV channel), Freeform was originally launched as the CBN Satellite Service on April 29, 1977, and has gone through several different owners (and s ...

on January 23, 2011, and released direct-to-video on February 1. It stars

Meaghan Martin Meaghan Jette Martin () (born February 17, 1992) is an American actress and singer known for her work in film, television, and theatre. She is best known for her starring role in the ABC Family television series, '' 10 Things I Hate About You'' ...

Jennifer Stone Jennifer Lindsay Stone is an American actress and nurse. She is known for playing Harper Finkle on the Disney Channel Original series '' Wizards of Waverly Place'' (2007–2012) and in the Disney Channel Original Movie '' Wizards of Waverly Pl ...

Maiara Walsh Maiara Kylior Walsh (born February 18, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She played Ana Solis on the sixth season of the ABC show ''Desperate Housewives'', Meena Paroom on the Disney Channel sitcom ''Cory in the House'' and Simone Sinclair ...

Nicole Gale Anderson Nicole Gale Anderson (born August 29, 1990) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Heather Chandler on The CW series ''Beauty & the Beast''. She is also known for her roles as Macy Misa in the Disney Channel series ''Jonas'' ...

Claire Holt Claire Rhiannon Holt (born 11 June 1988) is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles as Emma Gilbert in '' H2O: Just Add Water'', Samara Cook in ''Pretty Little Liars'', Chastity Meyer in ''Mean Girls 2'', Rebekah Mikaelson in ''The ...

Diego Boneta Diego Andrés González Boneta (born November 29, 1990) is an American actor, producer and singer. He gained wider recognition after starring in ''Rock of Ages'' (2012) alongside Tom Cruise and the ''Netflix'' biographical series '' Luis Miguel: ...

, and

Linden Ashby Clarence Linden Garnett Ashby III (born May 23, 1960) is an American actor and director. On television, he portrayed Brett Cooper on the final two seasons of the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox soap opera ''Melrose Place'' (1997–1999) and Sheri ...

. It was the final film produced by Paramount Famous Productions, as they closed down after its release.

Tim Meadows Timothy Meadows (born February 5, 1961) is an American actor and comedian. He was one of the longest-running cast members on ''Saturday Night Live'', where he appeared for ten seasons and for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emm ...

, the only original cast member to return, reprises his role as Principal Ron Duvall.

Plot

Jo Mitchell, an 18-year-old high school senior from

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

, attends North Shore High School and hopes to attend

Carnegie Mellon Carnegie may refer to: People * Carnegie (surname), including a list of people with the name * Clan Carnegie, a lowland Scottish clan Institutions Named for Andrew Carnegie *Carnegie Building (Troy, New York), on the campus of Rensselaer Polyt ...

, the alma mater of her late mother who died when Jo was a baby. On her first day, however, she encounters a clique called "The Plastics", composed of Mandi Weatherly, the self-proclaimed leader; Chastity Meyer, a ditzy girl with a raging

libido Libido (; colloquial: sex drive) is a person's overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. Libido is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Biologically, the sex hormones and associated neurotransmitters that act up ...

; and Hope Plotkin, a

hypochondriac Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a condition in which a person is excessively and unduly worried about having a serious illness. An old concept, the meaning of hypochondria has repeatedly changed. It has been claimed that this debilitating cond ...

. Jo also meets Abby Hanover, whom Mandi perceives to be a rival. Despite Jo's attempts to avoid the Plastics, conflict develops between them and Abby. Jo's father is a mechanic who rebuilds engines for

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...

. As a result, she becomes quite a good mechanic herself and ends up taking an advanced shop class, where she meets a boy named Tyler and develops a crush on him. Her principal means of transportation is a

Vespa Vespa () is an Italian luxury brand of scooter (motorcycle), scooters and mopeds manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of ...

motor scooter A scooter (motor scooter) is a motorcycle with an underbone or step-through frame, a seat, and a platform for the rider's feet, emphasizing comfort and fuel economy. Elements of scooter design were present in some of the earliest motorcycles ...

. After Jo gives Abby a ride home, she meets her father, a successful infomercial entrepreneur who offers to pay Jo's college tuition in exchange for her good friendship with Abby. Jo reluctantly accepts, motivated by her desire to attend Carnegie Mellon. Jo, Tyler and Abby become close friends, while Jo learns that Tyler is Mandi's stepbrother. Mandi also escalates her prank war, which includes using

artificial sweetener A sugar substitute is a food additive that provides a sweetness like that of sugar while containing significantly less food energy than sugar-based sweeteners, making it a zero-calorie () or low-calorie sweetener. Artificial sweeteners may be d ...

and coffee to ruin an engine being rebuilt by Jo's father. When Jo and Abby discover that Mandi is throwing a birthday party, Jo decides that Abby have one also; Abby's party is "all invited" , unlike Mandi's "invite only" party. After the Plastics see no one at Mandi's but hears Abby's party's music, they have Hope put

ipecac Syrup of ipecac (), or simply ipecac, is a drug that was once widely used as an expectorant (in low doses) and a rapid-acting emetic (in higher doses). It is obtained from the dried rhizome and roots of the ipecacuanha plant (''Carapichea ipecac ...

onto the pizza that is ordered there. After Jo notices it smells funny, she sees Hope also paying the pizza delivery guy, so she stashes it away. When the Plastics go to that party, they don't see anyone puking. Just as Nick, Mandi's boyfriend, doesn't see any food, Jo gives him the injected pizza to eat; after Mandi kisses him for Jo to see, he vomits on her. Jo, Abby and another outcast girl, school newspaper reporter Quinn, start a new clique called the "Anti-Plastics", play a series of pranks on Chastity and Hope. Jo runs against Mandi for Homecoming Queen and their campaign threatens Tyler and Jo's relationship. When Jo tries to give back the money Sidney Hanover had given her for her friendship with Abby, Mandi overhears and uses this against her. This leads to Tyler and the "Anti-Plastics" going against her as she is turning towards Mandi's personality. Mandi and Nick steal the homecoming court charity money, which is to be donated to an animal shelter. She plants it in Jo's shed, then tips off Principal Duvall stating that the money is there. Thanks to an unwitting betrayal by Quinn, Jo is expelled, but not before she finds Mandi and challenges her to a game of flag football. Mandi refuses until realizing she needs to win to remain popular, so reluctantly agrees. Tyler and the other Anti-Plastics try to help Jo prove her innocence with the help of the school's tech boy, Elliott. After the Anti-Plastics beat the Plastics at flag football, Mandi and Nick are arrested after Elliott finds images of them planting the money in Jo's home and texts them to all. Principal Duvall apologizes to Jo for the mix-up. At the Homecoming Dance, Abby and Elliott are elected King and Queen (thanks to Jo dropping out of the competition), and Jo and Tyler kiss. The film ends with Jo and Abby deciding to attend

together, while Tyler attends

Penn State #Redirect Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campu ...

a short drive from Carnegie Mellon, and Quinn assuming her long coveted position as the leader of the Plastics. Although Mandi and Nick both got community service and were allowed to graduate, they lost their popularity for their cruel actions, earning Mandi a bad reputation. Chastity learns the meaning of her name, and Hope begins working on overcoming her fear of germs.

Cast

as Jo Mitchell, a tomboyish 18 year old girl who shares an interest in cars with her father and must move schools at least 3 times a year because of his job. ** Tatum Etheridge as Young Jo *

as Abby Hanover, a kind but unpopular girl who comes from a rich background and is a rival of Mandi. ** Anne Alden as Young Abby *

as Mandi Weatherly, a cruel, spoiled and popular girl who views Abby as a rival and frequently bullies her and the stepsister of Tyler. ** Anna Cate Donelan as Young Mandi *

as Tyler Adams, a popular Soccer player who later dates Jo and the stepbrother of Mandi. *

as Hope Plotkin, a

who has a strong fear of germs and illness and Mandi’s Right-Hand-Woman. *

as Chastity Meyer, a ditzy girl who has multiple boyfriends and a raging

Bethany Anne Lind Bethany Anne Lind is an American stage and screen actress best known for playing Grace Young in the Netflix series ''Ozark'', Molly Quinn in the Hulu series ''Reprisal'' and Leigh Tiller in ''Blood on Her Name''. She had a recurring role as Clara ...

as Quinn Shinn, a timid wannabe who is on the School Newspaper team. *

as Principal Ron Duvall, the Principal of Northshore High who has had experience with the Plastics group before. *

as Rod Mitchell, Jo’s father and a mechanic. * Donn Lamkin as Sidney Hanover, the wealthy father of Abby and husband of Ilene Hanover. *

Rhoda Griffis Rhoda Griffis (born January 9, 1965) is an American actress who has played supporting roles both in independent and mainstream films and television. Life and career Griffis appeared onstage in ''Angels in America'', '' Proof'', '' Collected Sto ...

as Ilene Hanover, the wealthy mother of Abby and wife of Sidney Hanover. * Colin Dennard as Elliott Gold, a nerdy boy obsessed with technology who is attracted to Abby. * Patrick Johnson as Nick "Big Z" Zimmer, Mandi’s boyfriend and a former friend of Tyler. *

Mike Pniewski Michael Pniewski (born April 20, 1961) is an American actor and public speaker. Life and career Pniewski was born in Los Angeles, California. His education began at UCLA, where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater and al ...

as Mr. Giamatti, the school Shop teacher. * Kelly Gilmore as Fifth Year Senior * Willie Larson as May * Juliet Kim as Ling * Amber Wallace as Violet * Autumn Dial as Karate Girl * Katelyn E. Bulluck as Rugby Girl * Rachel Ellspoof as Cafeteria Girl

Production

''Mean Girls 2'' was first announced in 2008, as one of the upcoming film sequels lineup by Paramount Famous. In June 2010,

was hired to direct the film. The film does not reference the events of the original or attempt to connect itself to its predecessor, except for the inclusion of Meadows and the "Plastics" clique as the main antagonist.

Filming

The film was shot in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

in July 2010 in 22 days, in which scenes took place at the Sutton Middle School.

Promotion and release

The official trailer of the film was released on November 22, 2010. It premiered on

as a ''Mean Girls: Double Feature'' on January 23, 2011.

Soundtrack

; Track listing The film's soundtrack has not received an official release. # "

Hot n Cold "Hot n Cold" is a song by American singer Katy Perry. The song was written by Perry, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin and produced by Luke and Benny Blanco for her second studio album, ''One of the Boys'' (2008). It was released as the album's second si ...

" by

Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Known for her influence on modern pop music and her Camp (style), campy style, she has been ...

# "Wake Up Call" by Team JEM (Johnny Andrews, Elizabeth Elkins of The Swear and Michael Wilkes) # "No Stopping" by

Transcenders Transcenders is an American full service music production company established in 2002 by Brian Lapin, Terence Yoshiaki and Mike Fratantuno. History Starting in 1995, Fratantuno, Yoshiaki, and Lapin collaborated as founding members of the music gro ...

featuring Josef D'Star # "Nutmeg" by Transcenders # "Favorite Distraction" by

SuperSpy A superspy is a glamorous, important spy, especially seen in spy fiction Spy fiction is a genre of literature involving espionage as an important context or plot device. It emerged in the early twentieth century, inspired by rivalries and intr ...

# "Days Like This" by Transcenders featuring

Aimee Allen Aimee Allen is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She is currently the lead vocalist for the ska-punk band the Interrupters under the moniker Aimee Interrupter. As a singer-songwriter, she has collaborated with Mark ...

# "Addicted" by

Toby Lightman Toby Lightman is an American singer-songwriter. Her first album, '' Little Things'', was released in 2004 on Lava/Atlantic. Her second album, '' Bird on a Wire'' was released in 2006. During her career, she has toured and performed with bands ...

# "Love, Love, Love" by Hope featuring

Jason Mraz Jason Thomas Mraz (; born June 23, 1977) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, ''Waiting for My Rocket to Come'' (2002), which spawned the single " The Remedy (I Won't ...

# "Middle Ground" by Transcenders # " So Big" by

Iyaz Keidran Jones (born 15 April 1987), better known by his stage name Iyaz, is a British Virgin Islands singer and songwriter, formerly signed with the record label Beluga Heights Records. He is known for his singles " Replay", "Solo" and " Pretty ...

# "Middle Ground" by Transcenders featuring Tracey Amos # "Better Than Her" by Matisse # "Obsession" by

Sky Ferreira Sky Tonia Ferreira (born July 8, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, model, and actress. As a teenager, Ferreira began uploading videos on Myspace of herself singing songs she had written, which led to her discovery by producers Bloodsh ...

# "Walk of Shame" by

The Like The Like was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Its final lineup consisted of Z Berg (vocals and guitar), Tennessee Thomas (drums), Laena Geronimo (bass), and Annie Monroe (organ). The band released three extended plays (EPs) ...

# "Clavy" by Transcenders # "Ground Level" by Transcenders # "Party Plane" by Transcenders # "The Chase" by Transcenders # " 2012 (It Ain't the End)" by

Jay Sean Kamaljit Singh Jhooti (born 26 March 1981), better known by the stage name Jay Sean, is a British singer and songwriter. He debuted in the UK's Asian Underground scene as a member of the Rishi Rich Project with "Dance with You", which reached ...

featuring

Nicki Minaj Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accent ...

# "Mon Cheri" by A.B. O'Neill # "Crazy Good" by Juliana Joya # "I Know" by Kimberly Cole

Reception

''Mean Girls 2'' received negative reviews from critics, with Hilary Busis of ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...

'' calling it a "thinly veiled, low-budget remake of the 2004 hit with which it shares a name". Brian Orndorf gave the film a D+ grade and wrote that "Whatever problems I had with the 2004 feature aren't even an issue here, as the new film offers a decidedly more pedestrian take on the clique warfare concept, trading Fey's sly ambition for cruel DTV routine." Sandie Angulo Chen of

Common Sense Media Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.

, by contrast, gave the film 3/5 and wrote: "Mildly amusing sequel follows same 'be yourself' storyline."

Ratings

The film was the most-watched television movie of the week among viewers ages 12–34, with 2 million viewers in that age group (3.4 million overall); it attracted a strong female audience (1.6 million).

References

External links

* * * {{ABC Family original films Mean Girls (franchise) 2011 television films 2011 films 2011 comedy films 2010s American films 2010s English-language films 2010s high school films 2010s teen comedy films ABC Family original films American comedy television films American high school films American sequel films American teen comedy films Direct-to-video sequel films Films about school bullying Films about teenagers Films directed by Melanie Mayron Films set in Illinois Films shot in Atlanta Paramount Pictures direct-to-video films Television sequel films