Whereas the probabilities of a Imply Ladies sequel appear slim, followers of the beloved movie did get an opportunity to revisit with the characters, in a method, because of Walmart. The retail franchise had Lindsay Lohan and extra reprise their roles for a collection of adverts, which featured many grool references. Amanda Seyfried even returned as Karen Smith and performed the ditzy however lovable character completely. Nevertheless, Seyfried simply admitted it was rather a lot “tougher” to play Karen once more than she thought it might be, and her reasoning is smart.
In Mark Waters’ 2004 flick (which will be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription), the Plastics member was thought-about “the dumbest woman you may ever meet,” and he or she in the end grew to become the varsity’s climate woman as a result of her “fifth sense” being that her boobs may inform when it was raining. Within the Walmart adverts, it seems like her meteorology abilities are nonetheless put to good use for meteorological functions, too. Whereas it is one in all Seyfried’s finest roles and one she will be able to nonetheless pull off, she defined in a GQ video interview why the reprisal was one thing of a “mindfuck”:
Attending to play Karen once more was one thing that I’ve actually needed to do for therefore lengthy and type of a mindfuck. As a result of I do know she’s inside me in so some ways, as a result of I performed a model of her in my very own highschool so as to keep out of the drama. But it surely was slightly tougher to succeed in [the character], I feel.
How attention-grabbing that the Emmy winner admitted she performed “a model” of Karen in highschool for social survival. Whereas it appears the strategy labored, it is unlucky that it had for use within the first place. With that in thoughts, although, I can perceive why it was robust for the actress to tackle the function once more. In fact, there was additionally one other stress she needed to face — one which she did not must deal with a lot whereas making the unique movie:
The stress of a industrial on the whole is rather a lot. We have been promoting merchandise, which can be type of bizarre however enjoyable. And it was so centered round Imply Ladies and the Plastics grown up, however I felt like I wanted to choose about Karen in her late 30s. And you’ll suppose it might be simple, you’d suppose she’d be the identical particular person. I feel she is similar particular person however, for no matter motive, it was slightly tougher to succeed in. It wasn’t mind-bending or something, however it was slightly bizarre, simply bizarre.
That makes plenty of sense as effectively. Actors do must promote a movie, in a method, when doing press. However, on this case, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert and Lindsay Lohan have been explicitly promoting merchandise. I can see how that’d be awkward, however I did benefit from the adverts, particularly how they utilized unforgettable Imply Ladies quotes. Plus, followers have been handled to much-needed updates on the characters of Cady, Gretchen, Damien and Kevin, along with Karen. Try the Karen-focused Walmart advert under:
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As daunting as the duty of reviving Karen could have been, I would positively say that Amanda Seyfried succeeded. Contemplating I am a fan, that sentiment would possible be music to the actress’ ears. She additionally stated this:
And there’s that accountability, too, to deliver it to the followers as effectively, as a result of we’re making it for the followers, and we’ve got this quick period of time to create one thing that lots of people are gonna see. It was tougher than I believed it was gonna be. However I’d like to play somebody like Karen once more quickly.
Whereas Amanda Seyfried says she skilled profession setbacks as a result of enjoying Karen, I would like to see her play the function in a characteristic movie once more. Although I would additionally accept the star enjoying an identical character in some type of manufacturing. Seyfried definitely has comedic chops, and I would like to see her put her scene-stealing, humorous vitality to good use once more.
Till that occurs, although, I completely content material with Karen returning via the pleasant Walmart adverts. And kudos to Amanda Seyfried for managing to play the character in a method that not solely felt constant together with her unique portrayal however contemporary as effectively. Now, in the event you want me, I am going to simply be sitting right here ready for a Karen Smith spinoff film to be greenlit.