This post is not spoiler-free, and neither are any in the Chick-Flick Movie Challenge. To learn more about Clueless I recommend checking out its IMdB page.
Ugh, as if! For the second movie in my Chick-Flick Movie Challenge, I watched Clueless, which premiered summer 1995 and was directed by Amy Heckerling. First of all, yay! Woman director!
This is such a fun flick. I adored it. I’d actually seen Clueless before in high school, and I hadn’t been a fan, but I’m glad I gave it another shot. It’s based on the novel Emma by Jane Austen (1815), but set in 1990s high school.
Had I heard of this movie before this challenge? Yes!
Had I seen this movie before this challenge? Also yes! I didn’t like it the first time though, but I’m definitely glad I gave it a second shot.
My Rating: 9.4/10
Breakdown:
- Was it entertaining? 10/10
- Did it have The Heart? 9/10
- Were the characters likable? 10/10
- What about the plot? 10/10
- How did it look? 9/10
- How did it sound? 9/10
- Would it be good if it premiered today? 9/10
I think the first time I saw this movie I simply didn’t get the humor. It’s cleverly written, it’s fun, it’s smart. I wouldn’t say it’s satire, I’d call it a parody of Emma. Cher is determined to meddle in everyone’s lives around her to make their lives better. She then learns that meddling is not the way to get what you really want, and being involved in other people’s lives is not how to make your life any better.
While she’s characterized on the surface-level as an air-headed rich girl, Cher is smart. There’s that iconic immigration speech that I still think is an incredibly concise and lovely and one of her shining qualities is that she takes care of the people around her. Her heart is in the right place when she takes Tai under her wing even if it blows up for her later, but they make up and are still besties in the end. She teases and loves being with Paul Rudd’s character (who is technically her ex-step-brother and I get that that’s a little odd but honestly they’re super not related don’t @ me), from which she learns what love really is. She helps her father when he’s stressed and makes sure he stays healthy.
I adore the wacky plaid-on-plaid looks in this movie and the awesome throwback 90s music. Occasionally, I love indulging in movies that feature massive McMansions too and pretty white Jeep wranglers. The movie is very well made.
Nearly every character in this movie takes everything in stride. It’s not written to be realistic at all, so it maintains that whimsical romantic-era society vibe you get from novels at the time while still staying true to the iconic decade it takes place in.
Plus, Paul Rudd is gorgeous and has hardly aged a day since 1995.
I mean, he’s got a bit more of a smooth face, but man this guy is eternally good-looking. Ah! He’s so cute I can’t!!!!!!
*ahem* Anyway, let me compose myself. Where were we?
This movie is fabulous, I can’t believe I snubbed it when I first saw it. I suppose I was an angry, angsty 17-year-old at the time. I look back at that period of my life and I think I would’ve had a lot less troubles if I’d allowed myself to sit back, relax, and just enjoy a fun movie every once in a while.
To any haters of Clueless out here:
Honey In My Hair 
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