Clueless Whatever Edition

By:Erik Swift

September 2005

DVD Features Video:1.85:1 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 2.0 The Class Of ‘95 – A look at the cast, then and now Creative Writing – Director Amy Heckerling talks about creating the world of Clueless Fashion 101 – How the filmmakers invented the trend-setting fashions that defined the movie Language Arts – Director and cast give the 411 on the groundbreaking slang in Clueless How To Play The “Suck ‘N Blow” Game – A Tutorial Driver’s Ed – Get behind the wheel with the cast and crew We’re History – Stories from the cast and crew on the making of Clueless 2 Theatrical Trailers Theatrical release: 7/19/1995 DVD released on 8/30/2005 by Paramount Pictures Running time of 97 minutes Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Sisto Director: Amy Heckerling Plot: Jane Austen’s Emma meets Beverley Hills 90210 in US West Coast teen lifestyle parody.

“We could totally party with the Haitians (Haiti –uns)”- Cher Horowitz

Anyone who has seen Clueless, will undoubtedly have a favorite quote from it, just like those who have seen director/writer Amy Heckerling’s other high school teens classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High have theirs. Although both films encompass high school life they are very different films. Fast Times, written by Cameron Crowe, is a transcendent film, comedically expressing the personas and experiences that could be found at any American high school at any given time. Clueless, written by Heckerling, in turn is a very focused film, encapsulating life at Beverly Hills high school in the 1990s. What becomes apparent after viewing both films is Heckerling’s ability to attain well-timed comedic acting from her young, often minimally experienced casts.

Clueless, which follows the day-to-day trials of happy Beverly Hills teen Cher Horowitz and her novel methods of whisking those troubles away, is imbued with an abundant quantity of slang and clothing trends that is lightheartedly parodied. The flow and ease with which the characters use slang in conversation is a testament to Heckerling’s well-written screenplay. The infinitesimal times the words like; “whatever”, “audi”, and “as if” were uttered by the youth of America following the film’s release clearly indicates the success of the delivery of these slang terms by the young actors of the film and Heckerling’s direction of them.

Other than slang, fashion is perhaps what is most memorable about Clueless. Heckerling is right in tune with the importance of fashion to teens and in the film, provides characters with a specific look that is often praised or derided by others. One of the more memorable scenes involves Cher in voice-over discussing her perplexity over what high school boys are wearing, while a simple shot of a group of male teens walking reveals the styles of the day; baggy pants hanging half-off their butts, much too large t-shirts and sweatshirts, and baseball caps in reverse. Anyone who was in high school at that time will most certainly view the scene today as those who were in high school in the 1970s view movie scenes with leisure suits and powder blue tuxedos.

Finding out how the film got passed around the studio system and almost never got made, or that Stacy Dash (Dionne) was actually twenty-eight years old when she made the film are just two of the reasons for watching the many DVD extras. The mini-documentaries cover everything from fashion to casting, and provide behind the scenes footage as well as current interviews with former cast members.

Clueless is a time capsule for the Generation X-ers, providing a comfort and nostalgia that is often felt while perusing old photos. The DVD is a must have for that generation, but for everyone else it’s a fun light-hearted film to watch on a Friday I say..

Reviewer’s Opinion: RENT IT!!