*****DISCLAIMER: SOME OBSCENE LANGUAGE AND REFERENCE TO UNDERAGE DRINKING*****
This is a scene from one of the most iconic and watched movies of our generation: Mean Girls. The movie is about a highschooler, Cady, who was homeschooled from her home in Africa and is shoved into the world of public high school. She encounters her two best friends Janis and Damian in the movie and their archenemies...The Plastics (only the school's most popular and most vicious girls). Janis convinces Cady to "get in" with the popular girls and spy on them to perform various undermining pranks. This scene is when Janis and Damian confront Cady about turning into one of The Plastics when Cady ditched Janis' art show to host a party.
(watch to 1:30)
I think that this scene perfectly encompasses Janis' character. As she talks about the popular girls her ever-present sarcastic dialogue that makes appearances throughout the movie truly shows how much she loathes The Plastics and how angry she is that her new friend has joined that grouping of people. Cady's changed character as a Plastic is also shown with her shallow comment blaming Janis for what she has become. Janis takes this as the last straw in their friendship and when Cady sees the painting of the three of them we realize Janis isn't as tough as she seems. She's sentimental and sensitive, especially about her friends which without this scene we wouldn't have even known about her. After she throws the painting she crouches down into the car trying to hold herself together while suffering the betrayal of a friend she trusted. It's this rare and unseen side of Janis that makes me love this scene of Mean Girls.
This is a great scene. I liked your descriptions of the characters and how well thought out they are. This scene of mean girls is often over-looked but it is really important. There's more to the movie than many people realize.
ReplyDeleteAs I was watching, I was thinking that this was the perfect scene in the movie to characterize Cady and Janis. I agree that this is like the turning point for both the characters; Janis from tough to sensitive and Cady from innocent to mean girl. You did a good job picking the scene and your explanation was well done!
ReplyDeleteThis was a very good scene to show the characters that Cady and Janis are.It showed how characters do not always stay the same. Thse characters were very round for example Cady turned into a mean girl and Janis turned into a sensative girl. If I had never seen this movie Your explanation introduicng the scene gave me a really good undertsanding of what the movie was about.
ReplyDeleteThis was a brilliant choice! the scene really shows a strong character. I liked how you picked a scene where the two characters are completely different. We have Cady, who is now very prissy and is becoming one of the plastics; and we have Janis, who is goth like but is also effected by Cadys actions. Great job!
ReplyDeleteHey Susan. This is a great scene to use for character. I really like the explanation of the movie and that specific scene. I haven't seen the movie in a really long time and it helped me remember it better. Also I think you described Janis perfectly and you also did a really nice job talking about the transformation of her character as another character, cady's characteristics changed as well
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