Classic literature is mined for teen films quite often. How many ROMEO AND JULIETs in high school have we seen? Director Amy Heckerling (FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH) based CLUELESS on Jane Austen's EMMA and infused it with hip Beverly Hills glamour and slang. As for teen versions of classic lit, this is about as good as it gets.
Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone, LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST) is the prototypical dumb blonde, it seems. She obsesses about clothes, boys and the here and now. Along with best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash, RENAISSANCE MAN) and Dionne's boyfriend Murray (Donald Faison, TV's SCRUBS), they make it their mission to transform New York City transplant Tai (Brittany Murphy, DEAD GIRL) into the next cast member of BEVERLY HILLS 90210. Cher deeply disapproves of Tai's initial choice of boys — a tokin' skater named Travis (Breckin Meyer, GARFIELD). She tries to find Tai a more suitable suitor like the hottie Elton (Jeremy Sito, TV's SIX FEET UNDER). While she is playing matchmaker, Cher sets her eyes on the new boy in school Christian (Justin Walker). All along, Cher's former stepbrother and law student Josh (Paul Rudd, KNOCKED UP) watches Cher's manipulations with a wry smile, injecting a sardonic comment from time to time as he helps Cher's father Mel (Dan Hedaya, THE HURRICANE) work on a big lawsuit.
Like, this film is so '90s. For the style to the speech, it stands as a time capsule of its period. As for its influence on pop culture, the catchphrases from the film are too numerous to list here. As for the dialogue, there is great wit within. Cher and Dionne's banter is full of air, but there is a sly twist to everything they say. Heckerling is satirizing this plastic world, as well as portraying it with an open mind. Cher isn't a brilliant or dedicated student, but she isn't a moron. In the fake world she lives in, she has developed top-notched survival skills. Her motivations are pure, and though she is popular, she is not cruel as is the norm in teen flicks.
Silverstone broke onto the scene with THE CRUSH, a teen infatuation from hell thriller. However, CLUELESS made her the "it" girl. She has been in other good films like BLAST FROM THE PAST (and some stinkers like BATMAN & ROBIN), but this film still stands as her crowning achievement thus far. With the benefit of hindsight, the film also launched the careers of other talented actors like Faison, Sisto and Murphy. Hedaya's as the gruff father is excellent, given a father role that doesn't make the parent out to be a bumbling idiot or sadist. Additionally, Rudd nicely handles his part as the counter balance to the empty gloss of Cher's world.
CLUELESS is made for teens, but it has universal appeal. It's smart and funny. The wonderful dialogue isn't easy stuff, but the performers make it seem effortless. As Ms. Austen's tale was a product of her age, this film is an intelligent comment on our day.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
