CLUELESS (1995)
A Film Review Copyright Dragan Antulov 2003
In early 1990s, thanks to "Aerosmith" clips, Alicia Silverstone became one of the most recognisable and popular faces in the world. Roughly in the same time, Jane Austen's fiction became as popular as never before in two centuries of its existence. Those phenomena were accompanied by Hollywood producers' discovery that the world likes films and TV shows set in the fairytale world of Beverly Hills youth. The movie that used all of those three trends was CLUELESS, 1995 teen comedy written and directed by Amy Heckerling.
The plot, loosely based on Jane Austen's novel EMMA, takes place in modern-day Beverly Hills, in the world populated by teenage children of rich and famous. The movie's protagonist and narrator is Cher (played by Alicia Silverstone), 16-year old daughter of a successful and rich lawyer Mel Horowitz (played by Dan Hedaya). Cher and her best friend Dionne Marie Davenport (played by Stacey Dash) are the most popular girls in the local high school. When new girl Tai Fraser (played by Brittany Murphy) comes to school and proves to be at odds with the unofficial rules, Cher and Dionne quickly decide to stamp their authority by making her popular. Cher is also engaged in matchmaking activity, trying to put together two of her teacher. In the same time she is unaware that she needs some matchmaking for herself.
1990s movies were filled with so much cynicism and misanthropy that the viewers need some time before realising that the safe, worriless, idyllic PG-13 world of CLUELESS is exactly what it pretends to be. There aren't any drugs, booze, irresponsible sex and any other forms of social pathology that are usually associated with teenagers. Even American lawyer stereotypes are put aside when Dan Hedaya makes very sympathetic portrayal of Cher's father. The closest thing to subversion in this film comes in the form of Cher's mildly satirical observations of the lifestyle she and her friends practice. There isn't much of the plot in the film, but Heckerling directs character-oriented vignettes in a way that allows the film flows naturally. Alicia Silverstone plays her role very well, together with the cast that includes couple of respected actors like Wallace Shawn. In the end, CLUELESS isn't particularly memorable film, but it is still able to entertain those who happen to watch it.
Probably the most interesting thing about this film is the way it shows how the world changed between its premiere and now. Silverstone, who used to be hottest star in 1995, is now nowhere to be seen, while Brittany Murphy turns to be one of the most recognisable faces in modern Hollywood. One of the films most crucial scenes - each and every student using mobile phones in the school yard - used to symbolise material wealth of Beverly Hills youth in 1995. Eight years later, even the poorest kids can afford that invention. Technology has advanced indeed.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
Review written on January 28th 2003
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in Croatian http://www.purger.com/users/drax/reviews.htm - Movie Reviews in English http://www.ofcs.org - Online Film Critics Society
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