Mean Girls: Still Totally Grool After All These Years?

Okay, so I know this is a classic for a lot of people, especially those who grew up in the US, but I'm coming to "Mean Girls" (2004) as an outsider, you know? I've seen a lot of films from different countries tackle high school dynamics, and I'm wondering what makes this one so enduring. Is it just the quotability (seriously, who hasn't dropped a "the limit does not exist" line?), or is there something deeper that resonates across cultures? I found it hilarious, don't get me wrong, but some of the situations felt a bit... exaggerated, even for a comedy. Maybe that's the point, I guess? I feel like the director is someone I should know but I just looked at the cast list, I'm not familiar the director - very interesting! The whole Regina George character is fascinating, though. She's clearly the villain, but Rachel McAdams just makes her so captivating, even when she's being, well, mean. What do you all think about the scene where she pretends not to like the skirt Aaron compliments? Classic manipulative move, or just high school antics? And Cady's descent into "Plastic"-dom... I could see it happening, but it also felt a little quick. Did anyone else feel that way, or am I totally off base here? Ultimately, I did enjoy it. It's a fun, lighthearted movie, and it definitely made me think about the pressures young women face, even if it's played for laughs. But compared to some of the other films I've been watching lately from, say, South Korea or Iran, that explore similar themes with a much heavier hand, "Mean Girls" feels almost... fluffy? Not that fluffy is bad, mind you! I am just curious what others think about its cultural impact and whether the themes translate well to other countries and cultures, or is it just a very American phenomenon? And on a slightly related note, who else thinks Gretchen Wieners deserves way more credit? She's clearly the brains of the operation, but she's always getting bossed around! Poor girl! What did you all think of the ending and the bus scene?