Clueless
Director: Amy Heckerling
Stars: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Donald Faison, Wallace Shawn
Tagline: Sex. Clothes. Popularity. Whatever.
CLUELESS is the epitome of teenage life in the 1990s – specifically, life for white-privileged teens living in the Beverly Hills. Alicia Silverstone is a knockout as Cher, a ditsy teenage girl with no sense of direction (except “to the mall,” according to her ex-stepbrother Josh, played by the never-aging Paul Rudd), in a role that she was seemingly meant to play. Unsuspecting teens will get a quick course in English Lit as the comedy is a loose interpretation of Jane Austen’s EMMA. Beyond its plastic and plaid veneer, we see that Cher is not the bimbo she’s made out to be, but someone who is unintentionally manipulative in plotting ways to get As on her report card (the powers of persuasion, all thanks to being the daughter of a lawyer). CLUELESS is more than just another teen flick; it established its own lexicon of phrases that would become used every day. Don’t believe me? As if.
Memorable Quote: “I feel like such a heifer. I had two bowls of Special K, 3 pieces of turkey bacon, a handful of popcorn, 5 peanut butter M&M’s and like 3 pieces of licorice.”
