Clueless – Review

A loose adaptation of Jane Austin’s “Emma,” the film Clueless moves the action to the 1990s and a snooty Beverly Hills high school setting. Bringing a classy cast and tons of jokes, Clueless is a fairly timeless tale which remains clever and funny today.

Cher Horowitz (Silverstone) is queen of her rich high school. She wrecks debate class thanks to growing up with her lawyer father Mel (Hedaya), and struts around in stylish outfits making other classmates jealous. Her closet is the size of a master bedroom, and her computer program lets her visualize her cute fits before she even puts them on. What a dream for this 16-year-old.

Cher’s main girl Dionne (Dash) rocks her own vibes, and even dates a high school boy Murray (Faison), while Cher herself would never. Only studios, successful and older boys will catch Cher’s attention.  As a new girl Tai (Murphy) hits the scene, Cher and Dionne take her on as a “project” to help her fit in and get her in with the cool kids. Will Tai meet expectations and even possibly land a new beau in Elton (Sisto)? Or… will the trio of girls wind up at odds somehow, as life, popularity, social orders, step brothers and coolness gets in the way?

Clueless has its own lingo and vibes, which despite being full-on 90s still works pretty well in today’s society. The jokes are clever and the plot remains timeless, as well as harmless. It incorporates some slight romance as well into its satire, comedy and self-aware nature of its story. Well performed and directed, Clueless is a fun and goofy time.