Famous Canadian actress, Rachel McAdams began acting at age 12 and has made history in the acting industry ever since. She came to fame with the starring role of Regina George in the iconic movie entitled Mean Girls which aired on April 30, 2004. Just over two months later, the famous movie, The Notebook was released on June 25, 2004, with McAdams starring as Allie Hamilton. Safe to say, 2004 was a busy yet life-changing year for McAdams.
Mean Girls and The Notebook were released almost twenty years ago, but they are still talked about as if they aired a month ago. The relevance of these movies wouldn’t be possible without McAdams and her memorable acting.
Mean Girls perfectly captures the ruthless qualities of high school on film, qualities that many adolescents universally experience. When teenager Cady Heron moves to the suburbs of Illonois to a new high school, she soon realizes the differences between the Illonois life and the life she once had being homeschooled in Africa. For the first time, Cady experiences the cruel laws of popularity and how they divide her fellow peers into different friend groups. It wasn’t long before Cady encountered the Queen Bee of North Shore High School, Regina George, and the rest of her clique, who are known as “The Plastics.” Regina is known to rule the school, and Cady unintentionally finds herself getting more involved with Regina. Sooner than later, Cady understands why The Plastics were given that name.
Mean Girls comprises various elements that work together to create a thrilling experience for its audience. It’s not just a funny, revenge movie with a great acting cast. It’s also a movie about self-discovery that many teenage girls can resonate with. This movie is a part of many teenage girls’ lives and promotes self-love with the message that judging others doesn’t make a person better than them.
A big part of the reason this movie is so popular is because of McAdam’s portrayal of such a complex character with charm, cruelty, and confidence. McAdam’s had the ability to make Regina appear more than just a stereotypical mean girl. She perfectly captured the social dynamics in high school. Senior Keira Gallagher says “This movie is a timeless teen comedy that will be talked about for years to come.”
Now, it may be hard to believe that The Notebook was aired just two months later. Mill worker, Noah Calhoun and rich girl Allie Hampton fall in an electric state of love over the summer. However, Allie’s parents sternly disprove this relationship due to Noah’s low economic status. Although some may say this is simply a typical romance movie, it can touch and move its audience deeply with its beautiful and well-executed story. It is a story of unconditional love that also highlights more serious issues such as dementia. There are various conflicts within their relationship but Noah and Allie never fail to persevere through their hardships.
The Notebook gave its audience a new perspective on love. It demonstrates the enduring power of love and how miracles can stay with you for eternity. McAdams delivered a remarkable performance in this movie due to a combination of natural talent and authenticity. She was able to connect with the character of Allie Hamilton. Senior Kylie Turner expresses “I can’t believe I lived a life before watching The Notebook.” McAdams’ ability to convey intense emotions enabled the audience to connect with her character’s experiences.
Rachel McAdams is one of the best actresses of her time due to her various skills to convey emotions and bring characters to life, as seen in her two most popular roles as Regina George and Allie Hamilton. Anyone looking for a new favorite movie that will change their view on life, these are the movies for you.
