Review of Clueless (1995) by Aviya Z — 14 Apr 2018

Clueless (1995), Directed and written by Amy Heckerling, is a coming of age romantic comedy whose main plot perfectly portrays the sub-genre of love/hate relationships through that of Cher Horowitz and Josh Lucas.

Clueless perfectly depicts the "American Teen". Apart from the hilarious dialogue and quick pace, Cher, the protagonist, teaches the audience that 'hate leads to love'.

Cher and her love interest, Josh, are the perfect description of a love/hate relationship. Based on the book, Emma, by Jane Austin, the movie follows Beverly Hills teens living a luxurious life filled with pool parties, fancy cars, and popularity. What makes Cher so "lovable" is her desire to help those less fortunate, or worse dressed, than her. This irresistible characteristic ultimately leads to attention from her former step-brother, Josh. While the two are working to help Cher's father with his lawsuit, they try, but fail, to resist their undeniable attraction. Cher is nice and only desires to be kind to the people around her which is why describing her as "popular brat" does not do her character justice. At first, Cher is the picture of all things wrong with American Youth, but as her character develops the audience learns that most teens are just trying to do the right thing.

Initially, Cher "hates" Josh, and their feisty back and forth dialogue builds tension and seductive magnetism that can only be described as "suppressed romantic feelings". However, this relationship is somewhat creepy. Blurred by a '90s aesthetic and pretty clothes, Cher is a sixteen-year-old girl that hooks up with her former step-brother who is in college.

Despite this disturbing minor detail, Clueless grossed over 10.6 million in box office, ranking second that summer.

What separates Clueless from most Hollywood narrative are a series of quickly resolved dilemmas as opposed to a one major problem and that Cher's emotions come about later in the film giving the romantic growth a natural feel. The shots are wide and usually include groups of people contributing to the fun quirky feel of the film. The cuts are quick, and the character's intrinsic motivations are made public through clever close ups of facial expressions. Clueless, is a bright and colorful piece of art that was shot in just 40 days.

This film is a classic that can be compared to the older, His Girl Friday, and more recent, The Proposal. Love/hate relationships are relatable and tap into the human desire to reject something good because of a subconscious fear of rejection. But ultimately, these feeling are exposed and, as always, it is mutual. This movie is full of heart and passion which makes it a must watch for everyone.