#814) Clueless (1995)

The Plot: Teenager Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) lives a privileged life in Beverly Hills, but is determined to do good deeds for others. After setting up two of her teachers (Twink Caplan and Wallace Shawn), Cher and her best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash) set their sights on making over awkward new student Tai Frasier (Brittany Murphy). Cher also spends the school year trying to set Tai up with the right guy, while simultaneously trying to make things happen with metrosexual student Christian (Justin Walker). Also on hand is Cher’s ex-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd), who Cher may have feelings for. Will she figure it out, or will she remain clueless?

Why It Matters: The NFR calls the film “a time capsule of clothing, music, dialogue and teenage life.”

But Does It Really?: I’ve nominated “Clueless” a few times in the past, so no argument from me for NFR inclusion. I can’t remember the first time I saw “Clueless”, but I’ve always been aware of its place in pop culture; permanently defining mid-‘90s SoCal with its fashion and vernacular. Despite its timeliness, “Clueless” still manages to work over 30 years later as both timeless and very, very funny. As Breckin Meyer’s stoner character says, “Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Fine holiday fun.”

Shout Outs: References to “The Wizard of Oz”, “Gigi”, “Some Like It Hot”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Forrest Gump”, and a clip from “Sparatacus”.

Everybody Gets One: Alicia Silverstone was a relative newcomer to film when she got cast in the music video for Aerosmith’s “Cryin’”, subsequently appearing in their videos for “Amazing” and “Crazy”. It was her work in these videos that caught the eye of Amy Heckerling and got her cast as Cher in “Clueless”. Silverstone has continued to act on film and TV over the last 30 years, and is also an outspoken activist for PETA. This is also the NFR debut for most of the cast, including Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Breckin Meyer, and Dan Hedaya.

Wow, That’s Dated: Much like Heckerling’s “Fast Times” and the ‘80s, “Clueless” is inseparable from the ‘90s. Among my favorite ‘90s references: a shoutout to Tower Records, a slam on Pauly Shore movies, and a simpler time when Mel Gibson was just a Hollywood leading man and nothing else.

Seriously, Oscars?: No Oscar nominations for “Clueless”, though the film did earn a few precursor nominations and wins for Amy Heckerling’s screenplay, as well as Alicia Silverstone’s breakthrough performance.

• There isn’t a false performance in the ensemble. Of course it begins and ends with Alicia Silverstone, who successfully navigates Cher’s wisdom beyond her years while still being a 15-year-old. Only Silverstone can make spoiled look so adorable. We’re also treated to great supporting turns by the entire cast, especially from the wonderfully naive Brittany Murphy. My personal MVPs are Donald Faison giving us a preview of the comic energy he’ll be bringing as Dr. Turk on “Scrubs”, and Dan Hedaya as the rare supportive, present parental figure in a Heckerling teen comedy.
• Shoutout to costume designer Mona May. Half the success of “Clueless” is its costumes, which May apparently was able to get for cheap, as she considered the characters to be “mall rats, not models”. May also makes a cameo appearance within the film as Fabian the masseuse.
• As I’ve learned from this blog, a movie quote really catches on when you repeat it multiple times in the movies. Cher’s disgusted “As if” is said six times throughout “Clueless”.

• Not a revolutionary opinion, but it’s my first opportunity to address it here on the blog: Paul Rudd doesn’t age. Rudd was 25 when he made “Clueless”, and cites good sleep, exercising, and a healthy diet as contributions to his ageless appearance. Side note: I assume Rudd’s favorite clip from this movie is when the kid in the wheelchair falls off the cliff while a small alien looks on. Though that might be from another movie…

• Ms. Geist is played by Heckerling regular Twink Caplan, who also serves as the film’s associate producer. Mr. Hall is played by Wallace Shawn, who, factoring in his appearance here and in “The Incredibles”, now has seven NFR appearances. He’s inching towards Ward Bond territory.
• Hey, another movie for my “Die Hard Not Christmas” list. Does this make “Rollin’ with My Homies” a Christmas song?
• “Let’s blow off 7th and 8th, go to the mall, have a calorie fest, and see the new Christian Slater.” … They’re going to see “Murder in the First”?
• Favorite line in the movie: Cher’s dad to Christian before he takes Cher out; “Anything happens to my daughter, I got a .45 and a shovel. I doubt anybody would miss you.”

• Also dated: a performance from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Man, remember ska?
• I don’t have much to say about the film’s third act, other than I love Tai’s line, “You’re a virgin who can’t drive”, perhaps the ultimate put-down in a teen movie. I’m also a fan of third act “Main character is sad” montages, and this movie gives us one courtesy of an “All By Myself” cover performed by Jewel.

• As much as I enjoy this movie, I’m still iffy on the whole “ex-stepbrother” thing. The movie goes to great lengths to remind us that Josh and Cher are not related to each other, which is also the strategy in most adult films (so I’m told). I don’t know, it just doesn’t sit right with me.

• “Clueless” became a TV series in 1996 for a season on ABC, then two more seasons on UPN. Most of the film cast reprised their roles for the series, with Rachel Blanchard filling in for Alicia Silverstone. Other “Clueless” spin-offs include a series of novels and comic books, and even an Off-Broadway musical.

• Attempts at a sequel series starring Alicia Silverstone have been on-and-off for the last few years. As of this writing, the series is on, but so far the closest we’ve gotten is the 2023 Super Bowl commercial with Silverstone and Elisa Donovan (Amber) reprising their roles. What-ever.