Review of Clueless (1995) by Lorenzo V — 26 Jul 2010

"Why should I listen to you, anyway? You're a virgin who can't drive.".

Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life. Her external demeanor at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all-important teenage social life.

REVIEW.

Who would have thought that the best screen adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma" would emerge from an updated parody set in a Beverly Hills high school and directed by Amy Heckerling? But that's exactly what has happened with this film. Heckerling obviously gets that Austen's continuous appeal lies in the fact that her stories remain relevant and timely---so why not update it, make the character of Emma (Cher here, played by the adorable Alicia Silverstone) a daffy valley girl, and fill the movie to the brim with pop-culture references and one very funny vignette after another? After all, the spirit and tone of "Emma" emerges unscathed. Comedic performances are always underrated, maybe because they look so easy, but Silverstone really deserves a lot of praise for this movie. It would be nothing without her performance.