Clueless (1995)

“Cher’s main thrill in life is a makeover; it gives her a sense of control in a world full of chaos.”

     Clueless follows the life of wealthy teenager Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), as her life parallels that of Jane Austen’s Emma. Cher and her best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash), best friends because “[they] both know what its like to have people be jealous of [them]”, take the new girl in school, Tai (Brittany Murphy) under their wing. Closely following the storyline of Emma, the film explores the consequences of Cher’s matchmaking ways. With a Jane Austen storyline proven to be charming, the details of the film are free to vary greatly and ingeniously from Emma.

     Set in Beverly Hills, California, Clueless infiltrates the lives of well-to-do California teenagers via a comedy that verges on parody. While Cher’s life may seem shallow, as she spends most of her time shopping, arguing, and meddling in Tai’s personal life, a hidden depth is revealed through her ingenious commentary that threads the movie together. Alicia Silverstone is brilliantly funny and convincing in the main role. Clueless and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are certainly tied for the most quotable of all the films.

     The message of the film is the same as the messages of Emma: that matchmaking is a devious habit best left to the side and that love can be found in the unlikeliest of places. The reason Clueless has succeeded where so many teen movies have failed is the razor-sharp dialogue. Every word that comes out of Cher’s mouth is comedic gold. Alicia Silverstone delivers her ridiculously slang-riddled lines in a way that’s just serious enough to elicit laughter from the audience throughout the entire movie. While “tweens” will certainly see Cher as a pretty, popular, aspirational figure, she holds even greater appeal to a teen and young adult audience with her comedic insights into daily life, such as the following: “Getting off the freeway makes you realize how important love is.” While Cher’s high school experience isn’t quite realistic, the wealthy, attractive California setting contributes to the escapist entertainment that Cher’s life brings to Clueless. Clueless proves that it is possible to make a classic teen movie that doesn’t completely portray the realities of high school.

     The movie has an appealing and appropriate soundtrack, which includes “Kids in America” and, of course, “Rollin’ With the Homies”. The movie is rich in nineties culture, which, from a modern-day perspective, adds another layer of interest, as the film is set in a decade when crop tops were fashionable, cell phones were large and clunky, and thigh-high socks were popular.

Rating:

4/5 Clunky cell phones

The Verdict: Clueless can certainly be deemed a classic teen movie. The movie is deserving of this designation because of its:

a)      stunningly comedic portrayal of a California teenager

b)      positive, appealing message: matchmaking is bad, stay true to yourself

c)      fabulous, outrageous fashion

d)      cute romance

Should You Watch it?

   While the romance is not quite as fresh, and the resemblance to reality not as striking as in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Clueless is a close second. Watch this film the next time you are in the mood for light-hearted humour.

Director: Amy Heckerling
Writer: Amy Heckerling
Starring: Alicia Silverstone
Stacey Dash
Brittany Murphy