Set in a Californian high school, Clueless follows a well off popular teenage girl Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and her quest for good grades. I’m kidding, although that is why she started on her other quest to get Mr Hall (Wallace Shawn) and Miss Geist (Twink Caplan) to fall in love with each other. Her matchmaking was successful but her stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd) questions her motives and character which unwittingly spurs her to prove him wrong. When new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) arrives at her class, she saw a chance to do just that. With the help of her best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash), Tai gets a makeover as well as a push towards popular boy Elton (Jeremy Sisto). Her second matchmaking efforts ended in failure at a house party, which saw her being sexually assaulted and mugged at gun point in her gorgeous Alaïa dress. Through various obstacles, a lot of soul searching and some retail therapy, we see her transform from a Monet into a true Betty.

I recently rewatched this movie and enjoyed it a lot. I lie. I’ve watched Clueless 5 times this year. I’m about to watch it again as I write this review and we’re still in June. Somebody stop me! I would like to give a big shout out to costume designer Mona May as the majority of the clothes worn by the characters are not only beautiful and cute, they reflected the personalities of each character perfectly. So much so that the clothes they wore are still in vogue today. But in all seriousness, let me try and justify myself before you, like, pass any judgement.

This movie is so freakin’ quotable* in the best of ways. The valley girl accents gave the often ludicrous lines credibility due to its questioning tone. I can quote this movie nearly word for word in that accent. It doesn’t sound right saying it in an Aussie accent. Just imagine it – it is not the same. I have to give snaps to the entire cast but in particular Alicia Silverstone as Cher. She was able to turn a character that on paper is one of the most self-centred, materialistic, bimbos around into a human being that’s just trying her best to be better.

Major props to the director and writer Amy Heckerling who was able to balance both Cher’s spoilt and entitled moments with moments of empathy and care equally paired with an amazing sense of humour. Who could forget the amazing speech she gave regarding the Haiti refugee crisis at the time:

“So like, right now for example. The Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, “What about the strain on our resources?” Well it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. ’cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that like did not R.S.V.P. I was like totally buggin’. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier. And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.”

This speech resonates with me now more than ever. Politicians everywhere could learn a thing or two from her about humanity.

As a female, I myself have learnt many life lesson from her. As Cher puts it, “its one thing to have fun at parties but another to smoke up all day”. You can play hard but you also need to work hard. “Ugh, as if” settle and compromise on your own beliefs and standards no matter how others view you. I’ve also learnt hard truths about heartbreak from Tai, “If I’m too good for him, then how come I’m not with him?”. Touché Tai.

The main reason why this movie works so well is because it has a high level of self-awareness which allows it to be pretentious and over the top without going into cringe territory. It also shows character development that doesn’t fall into the typical tropes of beautiful rich blonde girl who doesn’t care for her grades and wants to date the most popular boy at school. She got a 98 in geometry and she has no interest in dating Elton. This is rare back in 1995 and its still rare now in 2018, which is why I find myself still watching this over and over again when I feel like a good romcom.

*Just a few of my favourite lines and quotes (in no particular order): 

1. Mel: “You mean to tell me that you argued your way from a C+ to an A-? Cher: “Totally based on my powers of persuasion, you proud?” Mel: “Honey, I couldn’t be happier than if they were based on real grades.”
2. Amber: “Miss Stoeger, my plastic surgeon doesn’t want me doing any activity where balls fly at my nose.” Dionne: “Well there goes your social life.” 
3. Tai: “Why should I listen to you, anyway? You’re a virgin who can’t drive.” Cher: “That was way harsh, Tai.”
4. Cher: “I’m captain of the Pismo Beach disaster relief.” Mel: “I don’t think they need your skis.” Cher: “Daddy, some people lost all their belongings. Don’t you think that includes athletic equipment?”
5. Cher: “Daddy’s a litigator. Those are the scariest kind of lawyer. Even Lucy, our maid, is terrified of him. And daddy’s so good he gets $500 an hour to fight with people. But he fights with me for free because I’m his daughter.”