Clueless (1995)

From an overnight hit, to a cult classic, to a timeless memento, Clueless is the definition of 90's culture and a nostalgia inducing powerhouse.

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is a stuck up teenager who lives in a swanky mansion in Beverly Hills. Like any other teenager she goes to school and happens to be the most popular student there, getting by on her good looks and devious tactics of getting better grades. Loathing and ignoring anyone who is beneath her, she takes a chance at including a new girl named Tai (Brittany Murphy) in her posse after her ex-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd), talks to her about using her popularity for a good purpose instead of soaking it in and hoarding it for yourself without any trace of goodwill to show for it. Cher and her best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash) do a makeover on Tai and transform her into a proper young lady with manners and good taste in order to find a suitable boyfriend for her. Tai is at first interested in a stoner student named Travis (Breckin Meyer), but Cher strongly disapproves of their relationship and directs Tai toward a more popular and favorable student named Elton. As time goes on and Cher is calling all the shots, she wonders if she will ever be able to find a boyfriend for herself after helping Tai and listening to Dionne and Tai tell them about their romantic encounters and dreamy dates. Searching for the perfect candidate to win her heart, Cher falls head over heels for a boy and tries every step in the book to make him adore her, only to find out the oh-so-obvious truth; because when it comes to relationships, Cher is absolutely... clueless.

One of the greatest parody films about high school culture and the hierarchy system that is rampant in so many high schools, Clueless blows it all out of proportion and exposes the scenarios that plague any high school student whether they're popular or not. From the ridiculous outfits to the childish behavior of the main character, Cher, you have got to love the many adventures and mishaps she gets herself into whether it be her fault or not. Alicia Silverstone does an amazing job transforming herself into a self-centered, shrill and obnoxious high school student who just happens to have it all when it comes to popularity and her substantial wealth. She is completely credible in the way she interprets Cher's character and it has no doubt turned her role into an iconic figure for the kids who grew up in the 90's. But wait till you get a glimpse of the girl who stepped onto the scene of mainstream acting in only her second film role and completely blew us away with her performance as the tomboy who needed a bit of a nudge in the right direction. I am of course talking about the lovely and adorable Brittany Murphy who absolutely stole every scene she was in and defined herself as the actress to watch out for in the coming years. Not only has Cher created a monster out of Tai, but Brittany created so much more. The direction of the picture as a whole was superb and really captured the essence of the youth culture in the 90's from the music to the clothes, the situations, and people who emerge as a result of participating in the social ranks of high school. I commend Amy Heckerling for bringing out the wild and volatile aspects of high school out in the open whether it be peer pressure, popularity or fashion sense. Without a doubt, this film is worth the honor of being inside a 90's time capsule and may it forever be a significant study into the culture of our young and blooming group of individuals.

There is something to be learnt from the story of Cher and her privileged lifestyle of course and the first thing that comes to mind would have to be the change in perspective. Cher's character goes from being a spoiled little rich girl with high standards and a beguiling nature, to a sensible young woman who learns to be considerate of others and appreciate what she has in her life and the people who support her. It all escalates after the arrival of Tai and her subsequent transformation into a lady of class, when Cher loses her grasp on the pulsating sensation that pervades the school grounds and crowns its new queen bee. As a result of her whirlwind year, Cher starts to contemplate her priorities and focus on doing what's right not only for her community, but the people who she thought were contemptible in every way she perceived them to be. You could say that it becomes a coming-of-age story and I'd think it fair to classify it as one to some degree.

Another interesting aspect of the story is social status and how a virtually unknown personality can climb the ladder of social class to reach upper echelons of their society. During the plot we are introduced to every kind of character you can expect in a high school environment and how they might be treated because of who they are. We have a stoner, a homosexual, a tomboy, the popular, and maybe a few hipsters in between. I was however surprised about how the popular kids would treat those who are considered to be outcasts and deviants of the norm. The character of Christian, who is open about his sexual orientation, would somehow be treated better by Cher and her friends (even the guys), but Travis, who smokes weed, is socially unacceptable and deemed as a loser. I think in today's society, the tables would be overturned and Travis would be considered suave and cool by his classmates, while Christian would be looked at as a shame to his species and an overall freak. However, the story is set in Los Angeles, which is racially and sexually diverse and understanding of all those who are considered outsiders. It's funny how even in the mid 90's, film would view someone who is gay as a decent person who is liked by even the popular kids for his character and not who he prefers to sleep with, while the stoner is left in the corner. We should learn from this kind of school atmosphere and be accepting of everyone despite what they prefer to do in their spare time and what they choose to label themselves. Everyone is different, and we need to be respectful but at the same time not give in to peer pressure and do something which we think isn't right for our mind and body. Everyone changes for the better and grows out of the habits and mindsets which they though were in fashion, but we don't need to stir up tension and spit venom at each other because of our personal views and moralities. If we can comprehend and grasp the thoughts of those around us, the friendlier and more compatible our society will be as a whole.

This film is a bit of a chick flick, so don't expect a guy to be interested or remotely curious about it unless they may have seen it before and enjoyed it. Many life lessons can be learned while viewing this film even though the main character is so naive, but it does open the door into the social aspects of high school no matter how absurd and whimsical their clothing may be. The one liners are great and the movie itself is highly addictive to the senses despite its garishness at first sight. Prepare to be inebriated and mesmerized by THE teen flick of the 90's.