Shallow, rich, and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school’s pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other.
If you want to reminisce or even share with your kids how things used to be back in the day, then watching a flick such as “Clueless” will definitely fill you up with some good laughs and fond memories. I shared this one with my daughter and she was hooked from beginning to end, however, I was also paying attention to how she responded to it to see how times have changed. It also gave me insight too. It’s crazy to me that in watching this movie again I noticed how you can pick up on things you didn’t see the first time. Watching this 25th Anniversary Edition years later, at a different age, some scenes just clicked that didn’t before, or shall I say, with a different perspective.
“Clueless” is an inside look on how teen life used to be in the late nineties, starring a fifteen-year-old girl, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) who thinks she lives a normal life but really she’s living the high life. Her dad, who she refers to as “daddy,” is a litigator and while he gets paid five hundred dollars an hour at work, she argues with him and learns from him for free at home. She goes out of her way as his daughter to take care of him and make sure he’s eating properly. His work knowledge equips her for handling her grades and lifestyle at school, which he adores and is well pleased with her charm and thought process to get what she wants. In considering I didn’t have a remote and computer software to pick out my clothes (which she calls her “costumes”) for the day, a maid, or a cell phone and a beeper, I’d say she experiences the finer things at a young age. On the other hand, I’m kind of glad I didn’t carry a cell phone like they had back then, by golly they were so large! I did, however, know the lingo and my wardrobe at that time was pretty exact. It made me wish I still had some plaid attire other than a button-up. The high school clique she associates with are fashion-savvy and she is showcased as a role model for the school and other fellow girls. I have to admit I kind of loved that time period of fashion where plaid and knee-high stockings were a thing, sheer cover-ups, stylish jewelry, and platforms. The clothes don’t make the girl though, the girl makes the clothes. Today it just seems like fashion isn’t in your face as it used to be with each decade. Nowadays it seems like anything is acceptable and what’s trendy is somewhat overlooked. While each decade has their “thing,” I think the nineties rocked it.
One thing that hasn’t changed looking back is the way this movie depicts social groups as constant. Cher takes it upon herself to make sure she is feeling balanced and doing “good deeds” which is a wonderful inspiration for young people who watch this to pick up on, or for you to point out to them. She looks at giving “makeovers” and setting people up for love, as well as spending time with others who she thinks could use her help not only makes her feel good but goodness flows from her efforts, bringing people out of their shell. In the beginning, she portrays herself as too good for any boy in school and wants to instill in girls to choose wisely. In the middle, she mistakes a friendship that developed from a crush for a romance, and by the end, she kisses someone she doesn’t realize is right in front of her, who is amazed by her the whole time. How beautiful it was to see his facial expressions that she didn’t notice when she did something that put stars in his eyes and being moved in his mind and heart by her endearing ways.
This movie, while it’s called “Clueless,” in my opinion, is anything but. She’s pretty, popular, witty, persuasive, and fashionable and sets the bar high as a leader for other girls to follow. She’s got more clues than most teens and if teens could understand how the way in which you carry yourself and think is like the compass to your future, I’d think they’d realize that the clue here is to stop being clueless and live with purposeful intent, which is what she does. This is an epic take on how you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and considering people, you should never judge someone by their looks. People can amaze you. They can astonish you to the core. People can come from any walk of life and be talented and amazing. It’s all about perception and perspective. You can be the whole package. You can have beauty and a brain.
The language in this movie just makes me laugh inside that yes, I was the typical female then that used all of the same words like, “as if,” “whatever,” “hello,” “totally,” “like,” “buggin’,” “actually,” “snaps,” “sporadic,” “rigid,” “ballistic,” “outtie,” and “411” just to name the main ones. I just realized how years later the word “actually” I still use all the time! LOL… Cher’s best friend is Dionne (Stacey Dash), or “D” and they soon befriend the new girl, Tai (Brittany Murphy), an artistic tomboy as a “project,” giving her a new look and acquaint her socially. Throughout this movie, there are scenes I found humorous and classic. I won’t go into detail as to not spoil the fun and lightheartedness of taking this epic movie in.
“Clueless” may come off as teens that live in la-la land and while some point out Cher needs direction in her life and not just the “mall,” she is filled with a witty sense of humor and knowledge who doesn’t get the credit she deserves. Some people recognize the intrinsic value of a person while others demoralize others just to make themselves feel better out of sheer jealousy. In the end, the person doing good shines. For entertainment, I suggest watching this one or taking it in again, you just never know what you might learn this time around. I think this movie is infamous for how people are stereotyped and how people should really take people in for who they are and admire them instead of thinking that someone who is “different” isn’t normal. What’s normal anyway? Who’s normal anyway? There is no normal. Dare to be different. Standout like you were born to do. Don’t just roll with life, know who your people are “Rolling with the Homies”… and do something for humanity.
Available on a 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray July 21st
A classic for it\\’s times. One of the funniest movies for that year, Actually has great points if you can quit laughing, fantastic cast, and a role that will live in infamy. 5XKUDOS