Mean Girls, A Total Analysis | Total Take
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Happy Mean Girls Day! Mean Girls has solidified its place as one of the most iconic teen comedies of all time - but what is it about this movie that makes it so enduring? This is the Total Take, where we break down the most analyzable films and TV shows of all time through visual storytelling, writing, symbolism, world, and impact.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 What makes Mean Girls analyzable?
00:43 Patreon Update - TOTAL TAKE
02:19 Writing
05:10 Symbolism
10:42 World
13:16 Visual Storytelling
14:29 Impact
CREDITS
Executive Producers: Debra Minoff & Susannah McCullough
Chief Creative Director: Susannah McCullough
Associate Producer: Tyler Allen
Writer: Jessica Babineaux
Narrator: Jessica Babineaux
Video Editor: Tyler Allen - บันเทิง
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Nice that you’re uploading this particular analysis on this national holiday. October 3rd is so fetch!
“Stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen. It’s not going to happen.”
Fun fact: it's actually a national holiday in Germany. The day of German unity😅
@@Kick0a0cat 💀
Still trying to make fetch happen nearly 2 decades later? 🤔😆
The relationship between girls and math deserves more analysis in this movie. Cady was a math prodigy but she hid that to negotiate a better position in Girl World. It was admirable how well Aaron Samuels took it when Cady told him he is bad at math. That made me think Aaron already knew how bad he was at math and he knew immediately what was going on when Cady pretended to need his help. Even if Aaron did not know Cady was a prodigy, he knew she did not really need his help and he knew Cady had some other agenda.
Ohh that’s a cool theory but I don’t know I feel like Aron is way too stupid to think about that 😭but that’s just me
‘Aaron’
I have always just assumed that he knew, like, that is the only version that even crossed my mind lol
I've heard alot of complaints over the years about the school bus and Regina being hit by it as a jumping the shark-moment. But I think it isn't out of place. The school bus represents the real world and if you don't watch out, if you think you're untouchable or that the world revolves around you, then sooner or later you'll not pay attention and you'll be run over.
Huh. Never thought of it like that. You've made that plot element far more palatable for me, thanks.
Great take!
She needed to be humbled anyway lol her toxic ssa bee walking around all high & mighty for too long. Oh well
When Aaron compliments Regina on her face smelling good because of the product Cady handed to her, she looks at Cady with such gratitude and complicity, and it gives us just a glimpse of what a true friendsip between them would be like, (I dont know if it was just an editing accident or if I just a misunderstood the Rachel Mcaddams look, or if it was really supposed to be this way) but is so nice to just imagine them being real friends and supportive of one another, they clearly have way more in common than Cady have with Janice, it's very sad actually, girls friendships are so colorful, deep and energetic, for me the most beautiful friendship I've ever seen in a movie is the one between Cher and Dione I love those girls :(
No. Female friendship is not particularly exciting whatsoever. Rather. My friendships as a Female art with Men. *
@@kiranjitKaur61 I don't think a man can understand a woman truly, friendships with girls who are really honest and not jealous are another level, woman are really empathetic, man could never, in my opinion. But, of course, its great to have friends, masculine or feminine
@@rebecafonseca4276 in my experience, the men who can legitimately befriend women are the ones who grew up with sisters, especially if they're relatively close in age.
Happy October 3rd, what a Grool Analysis! This movie is almost two decades old, yet it still stands up as a classic 2000's teen movie. I hope that they eventually make a PROPER sequel, with all of the Plastics as parents to their own teenagers.
I love older movies like this, cause i find it so distracting when in whatever series or movie nowdays people are constantly on social media and on their phones. That’s too realistic. While watching films, I wanna escape from the reality of everyone’s hand being attached to a mobile device. 😆
Just as a side note-Lindsay lohan doesn't look like me but we do have a very similar colouring. I learned early to NEVER wear pastel colours. Especially pastel pink. It doeant work because it clashes washes you out. When she Is more plastic she wears colours that are not suited to her. If she is feeling more powerful or more herself she is wearing red. You can see the influence through clothing that solidify her position but also don't 'fit'. She also has influences from all of the girls because she isn't listening to her own instinct of how she should dress that is her own style. From what I understand that was an intentional choice
Nice catch! I can't unsee it now 😮
@MsSarcasticSmirk thankyou :) but I don't think this was me I think I saw it on a modern gurlz analysis and forgot I never wear pastel colours.
What happens frequently is people wear colours in shades ill-suited to them. If you are in America and have "cool" undertones (meaning, according to many including our local makeup brands makers: caucasian aka white with pink undertones), you don't wear the same shades as those people with warm over and/or undertones. Same colours but in different shades. It's generally called the Colour Season theory.
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Olive toned people like myself (euphemistically called 'golden' but aka = yellow'y overtones but cool undertones, with both blue and greenish veins visible as opposed to only one or the other) appear to be a warm 'colour season' due to our overtones but look awful in, say, warm-toned tomato-red. Since we have cool undertones, we look much better in the cool-toned shade of red, called alternately cherry-red, blue-red and/or true red.
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Fyi, despite misinformation, finding your season actually has less to do with your shade of hair or eyes individually so much as your overall skin and hair palette altogether. Do you have warm vs cool vs both over/undertones in skin? Warm -- meaning lots of orange-red based pigmentation -- toned hair or cool or ashy shades (ex. butter-yellow blonde, auburn-brown or coppery orange-red hair vs blue-toned black, espresso brown or ash blonde)?
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If you're having trouble identifying your season (usually because the original theory-based websites often forget that not eveyone is purely pink-toned white or brown-people-so-must-be-warm) try looking up guidelines from other countries, or by bloggers that specifically speak to mixed ethnicities.
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They tend to be aware of things like that 'Asian' people, for example, can come in more than one shade of skin, and not all of them are warm overtone + warm undertone just because they aren't, say, the colour of European or Japanese 'white' looking people. Or that yes, black people and other poc's also have warm and cool over/undertones (ebony black vs warm brown-black skin somehow get missed and dismissed as "black people can all wear anything" as if we're talking about how basic matte black pants can be worn with any colour of shirt; it's true for the pants, but not for the people).
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Thanks for attending my webinar, and enjoy your internet rabbithole reasearch! Also, sorry about that.
@@iprobablyforgotsomething I just became a fan😎
happy mean girls day
What a relief to see Debra and Susannah again, I genuinely thought they must've sold the channel.
Hi there! We're still here 🤗
While I don’t have the necessary funds to give for a Patreon, I’ll still be supporting the channel in my own way! Y’all are awesome, keep up the good work and Happy October 3rd!
That is so fetch! We appreciate you :)
This will probably be the only Patreon that I ever sign up for, well worth it ❤
Can't wait to see you there!
Hmm Total Take is a new category i think!! I hope they keep doing things like this and leaning more into film analysis like they used to and not the pop culture/royal stuff they've been doing. This is much better!!
in the first scene cady is almost hit by a bus. cady is very good at math. "i didn't mean for that to happen. regina, please. regina stop. 🛑" x marks the spot.
It always surprises me that Tina Fey created this movie
“It’s October 3rd”
I still wonder why Regina was so angry
The way I figure it, the movie hints that her father is weak-willed and finacially present but emotionally absentee (and perhaps also physically, if he's at work all the time to avoid his family).
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Whereas her appearance-obsessed mother is overly-involved -- or tries to be -- in her kids' lives (but makes her desperately clingy involvement about herself and her emotional needs rather than any genuine interest in her girls) who doesn't enforce rules out of a desire to be their 'friend' rather their parent. Because parents are uncool and old but not her, she's young and hip (right? ...right??!)!
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Regina is a spoiled, overindulged tyrant that forced her parents to give her the master bedroom. But also a girl who deep down knows she can't rely on them in any real way for support or guidance or even basic understanding since they don't really even know her as a person (because ofc she'd never trust to confide in them).
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So her worst traits are never reigned in by her parents, who basically might as well not even be there, and she then carries over her dictatorship lifestyle into her school life. Where she has devoted lackies, a (temporarily) naive bf safely under thumb, and fearing-adoring outsider fans but no (longer any, if ever had) real friends that she truly respects and/or trusts.
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She's actually very emotionally isolated. So she gets her b*tch on full throttle 24/7 because by then, why the bleep not?
she was on top of the social hierarchy but it’s exhausting to stay up there. Karen and Gretchen weren’t really her friends; the members of the plastics were screened to keep her the queen bee. She seemed to like the other guy but got Aaron back just to mess with Cady. Everything she did was not what she truly wants. She was just very good at playing the game. I imagine living that life kept her very unhappy.
Assuming post-bus accident Regina is a more genuine Regina - wearing jeans, a pony tail and playing lacrosse make her calmer. This huge difference speaks to the facade she put up for the majority of the movie.
Basically, she was angry because she was putting in all the effort to be what a top hottie girl was SUPPOSED TO BE, at the expense of her own happiness.
@@iprobablyforgotsomething Good point!
@@mhawang8204 Good point!
I just finished watching mean girls on tick tok and now I get a video from the Take? Can life get any better?
My analysis: This is one of the greatest movies of all time up there with Pulp Fiction and Shawshank Redemption
Carrie.
I appreciate that you have heard the viewers and are taking their feedback into consideration: this video recalls classic The Take content, and it is what brought a lot of people to the channel in the first place.
That said, it does raise some questions about how you are approaching accessibility moving forward. People have not enjoyed the more TMZ/gossip stuff and requested more film content; now you say that you will be putting the asked-for content behind a paywall. What will be your main channel content moving forward?
It’s your channel, you can do what you want with it. But this video ends with a message about breaking boundaries; given your personal focus on equity, what you are describing is just going to be another barrier.
Seconding this. ^ I so appreciate that you (The Take) want to deep dive into topics, because I personally love media analysis and more meaningful conversations and/or commentaries in general.
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But while I'd love to be able to offer some disposable income in support of this channel, tbh I'm in circumstances where I can't even guarantee I can make the payment on my phone (which doubles as my internet and social-emotional lifeline to friends & family, and thus a high priority bill to pay for me) each month.
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So to learn that the looked forward to-content won't merely only be delayed (even greatly so) for people unable to support the Patreon, but presumably forever unavailable to them, period full stop, really sucks. : /
We are listening, and this is the type of content we love to make! You can definitely expect more deep, rich film and tv analysis on the main channel, too. But when we do make those videos here, TH-cam’s algorithm doesn’t always favor them or show them to as many people. That’s why we want to open up this new avenue to directly share the videos we’re most passionate about with our audience and give people a chance to support us and participate in that selection process. Don’t worry, if you can’t support us there we still appreciate your support here, and we’ll continue to make great videos for the channel, too!
Happy mean girls day! I will sheepishly eat my lunch in the bathroom to celebrate. 😂
Love this content, cant wait for more of this! ❤
And we can't wait to share it!
Oh wow! Just realised I've been waiting for this without even knowing it! Thanks for delivering!❤❤
Happy October 3rd. That’s so fetch!
Wait what is oct 3?
this was wonderful!
it takes the late 90s movie look, and gives it some substance, not just dck n frt jokes
in the first scene cady is almost hit by a bus. cady is very good at math. "Regina I didn't mean to... Regina, stop." x marks the spot.
Can you please make a video on what make regina George iconic and admirable even though sge is just a movie character ❤
Uhh I think they already did that 😂
The timing of this video is crazy I literally rewatched this on TH-cam just last night
Happy mean girls day!!
The part that always bugged me was the "Unfriendly Black Hotties". It was sad because I wasn't unfriendly in the least. I was & still a people person & that got a number (not all) of the black student giving me the side eye.
That's so FETCH ❤
An unfriendly black hottie wouldst be rather interesting indeed.
Does anyone think Mean Girls' Plastics resembles the TV show Daria's Fashion Club?
Perhaps somewhat so. Rather.
Video starts at 2:16
This was such a lovely analysis 👏🏽
Thanks for being an awesome fan!
@@thetake Omg thank YOU!
Is there a 2010s equivalent to 80s/90s/00s Heathers, Jawbreaker, and Mean Girls?
Happy Mean Girl's Day!
I know I am late but same to you and happy mean girls day everyone else!
I do rather love being a Mean Girl !*
🎶Halcyon And On And On🎶
Can someone tell me what day it is? 👩🏻🦰
It's October 3rd 😏
Not a criticism but a concern, I hope you’re feeling okay Susannah, a little worried about your voice.
Wow! Was that a shot from CLÉO DE 5 A 7? Is the channel actually acknowleging the existense old black-and-white foreign films? That's a huge step forward!
We can't wait to cover some French New Wave cinema on Patreon!
This movie is a jewel
for the total take...i was thinking if you can try out series such as mr. robot, taxi driver (korean series), girl from nowhere etc.
Happy October 3rd!!!
What's point of a game if everyone wins what's points of racing
Cady is the Michael Corleone of teen films
She convinced majority of viewers that she was corrupted but in truth she's always been a mean old bastard
Not really if she’s a evil person then Regina is basically satan himself
Happy mean girls day
Lindsay Lohan is just so good. I want her to have a proper comeback!
No. Lindsey lohan is an awful radical rather.
You’re doing a full analysis of a movie? You mean like you used to do all the time?
😂😂😂
Glad I wasn’t trippin cuz I was like this is exactly the same type of content they literally always post???
I was thinking about mean girl literary a couple days ago😂😂
Thinking of "total take" you'd expect them to be at least 30 mins worth of content. Is this video specifically just a condensed version? Or all all of the, less than 20 minutes?
warm bodies is like a zombie romeo and juliet
Has the Total Take for Melancholia been made yet because that's tempting me
please please please do warm bodies!!! it has so much symbolism !!!
Thise shirts sometimes look more purple
I agree with most of this analysis but I don't think that any analysis of Mean Girls would be complete or "total" without pointing out its relatively transparent racism and classism. I mean, for instance, the whole image of "Africa" that is presented in the movie is overly simplistic, inaccurate and stereotypical. It derives from, and feeds into, the "Africa is a jungle" and "Africans are primitive" stereotypes that are so rife among Euro-American White people. In addition, the casting of the movie is embarrassingly White, and the high school experiences and challenges depicted in it are in no way inclusive of the experiences of non-White teenagers in American high schools. This depiction is also classist in that it includes only the experiences of wealthy and, at best, middle class high schoolers.
I hope that your future takes on this classic take these issues into consideration. Nevertheless, thank you for this thoughtful analysis of the film; I certainly learned a few things from it.
I do not mind the racial elements. Whatsoever. Rather. A Hollywood Film is allowed unto be that way and is often interesting for it.
The Parents being zoologists doth make sense of the manner within which Africa is depicted within the Film and given the homeschooling element additionally. Rather.
Hmmm.
Seems like the Barbies would relate to the Speech Before thr Ken's tiok over
Does accountability really make you happy
Shepherd's Chapel Network !!!!!!! Do you know where America is mentioned in the Bible ???????
🩷
First comment!
Come over to Nebula!!
All the time he is boasting he could make 10 Munna Bhai or 3 Idiots. The fact is both are populist movies, dialogues were dumb down, spoon fed Audiences today may discard such movies because they r not into pravachan. 12th pass is based on true story, may be that's why r connecting.
First
It's interesting to see how all the actresses turned out... main character ended up the worst :/ which is sad
The only one that had issues was Lindsey, and that’s more due to her being exploited by the industry
@@witchplease9695 fr, child stars have been failed by the industry and their support systems time and time again. I really hope it's gotten better but I guess only time will tell
She just had a baby and is married I read online and saw pics of her this year and looks so at peace with herself and healthy. She was probably dealing with trauma from her parents, hollywood, fame, drugs etc.
That lindsey is an awful radical rather. I am not sad about it. I simply do not care for that lindsey. *
Name 1 feminist movie that taught accountability to women and girlsbad mom's Barbie
analyzable?..
0.44min Anyone also thinks she sounds like Anya Taylor-Joy?😊
I would complain about your lack of analysis on black teen girl movies but we don't have any.
bring it on?
Girl, what happened to your voice? This feminism thing got you lot all gassed up.
Nah, take a spoon full of honey, sugar in water
A fucking masterpiece I love that movie.
I love you ladies and I'll totally pay for your content when I hit it big, but I hope you'll still do the free videos too 🩷
We'll still be here, don't worry!