Review of Clueless (1995) by Wayne K — 11 Aug 2017

A bright, breezily paced, often hilarious but always tongue-in-cheek look at the rigours of high school life and remaining at the top of its vicious hierarchy via fabulous clothes and plenty of cash. Alicia Silverstone's Cher, so posh and wealthy that her mother died in a liposuction accident, is instantly relatable.

We all had that girl in High School who liked to think she was better than everyone else and would do anything to maintain that belief. But what's so great about her character is that she's made completely aware, and constantly acknowledges, just how vain and materialistic she is, and she's actually a really nice, well intentioned person.

She's definitely silly, but she herself admits how much she likes helping people, and her character development follows a very fun, very positive path. There's moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity, moments of genuine emotion and plenty of biting satire, with the movie always fully aware of what it is and what it's aims are.

It's a very charming movie, well-acted, memorable and easily one of the greatest satires of the 90s. Watch it if you get the chance.