Review of Clueless (1995) by Farah R — 08 Jul 2017

I was 25 when this movie came out and in 2017, writing this, I am 47. I am a movie buff and have seen thousands; this movie is in my top 5 or 10 favorites of all time. My oldest daughter and I watch it once a year or so and quote it constantly. Amy Heckerling wrote "Fast Times..." before this, a movie I disliked immensely; I found it cynical and depressing with only one or two likeable characters.

This, to me, is the opposite. Alicia Silverstone is perfectly cast and delightful as Cher, a privileged girl with a big heart and generous spirit. Dan Hedaya, who folks my age may remember as Carla's ex-husband Nick on "Cheers", plays her father, a litigator who is gruff but adoring and who doesn't miss a thing. I adore him mostly for the line he utters when Cher complains about her ex-stepbrother staying in their lives: "You divorce wives, not children!" This is the sweet, mopey do-gooder Josh, played by Paul Rudd (who somehow still looks almost exactly the same).

I love watching such a non-cynical movie about teens. There is conflict here, but no villains, the closest things being a boy who gets gropey with Cher and a mugger who isn't particularly threatening. If you're the parent of a teen, know that there is some teen alcohol and marijuana use, but some consequences are shown --someone vomits violently into a swimming pool at a party, and one boy joins a 12-step group to stop smoking pot. (You may be forced to explain to your child what a "Pauly Shore" is.). For the most part, it is a funny movie about mostly good (though in a couple cases, a bit snarky) people who become better, and a smart movie that knows that those who seem vacuous at first are often deeper and much more intelligent than they appear.