Clueless

Heckerling, Amy. Clueless. Paramount Pictures, 1995. PG-13. DVD. 97mins. ASIN: B002A9X9DE

Plot Summary

In Beverly Hills, rich high school student Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone, gets everything she wants. In an attempt to renegotiate her report card grades, she plays matchmaker with two of her teachers so they will be happier and grade easier. It works, and the success goes to her head. Next, she sets her eyes on making over the unpopular new girl, Tai, played by Brittany Murphy. Meanwhile, she and her ex-stepbrother Josh verbally spar over what’s important. A series of high school relationship ups and downs, Tai’s brush with death, and Cher’s failed drivers test ensues, and Tai’s popularity seems to be surpassing Cher’s. When Tai tells Cher that she has a crush on Josh, Cher is confused about her own feelings for him. She finally realizes that she loves him when she goes shopping to clear her head. To impress Josh, Cher does volunteer work, and he is impressed by her new selflessness. In the end, everyone is with who they should be with.

Evaluation
The setting is Beverly Hills, which serves as the perfect backdrop for Cher who has always gotten everything she wants. She lives in a multi-million dollar mansion and goes to high school where she believes she can negotiate her grades. Cher’s narration throughout the movie represent the time and place. Valspeak, otherwise known as Valley girl speak, surfer slang, skateboarding slang, and California English, is a dialect that originated in the 1970’s and became widely heard in California. An example is during Cher’s narration when she says, “Okay, so you're probably going, ‘Is this like a Noxzema commercial or what?’ But seriously, I actually have a way normal life for a teenage girl.” Words such as “like,” “going,” “totally,” and “way” are common words in Valspeak, and Clueless does an excellent job using the dialect as a way to characterize Cher, Tai, Dionne, and the others. Josh’s “granola” persona balances out Cher’s Valley girl. While her outward appearance is superficial, the audience can relate to her inner intelligence. The plot loosely focuses on Cher’s attempt to make-over a “clueless” transfer student, but in the process, she realizes she needs a make-over of her own. She has been “clueless” herself, and she realizes the value of love and of caring for others.

Readers Annotation

Sweet, spoiled, Cher plays matchmaker and makeover artist at her Beverly Hills high school. Popular, yet seemingly vapid, Cher learns about what love is when she finally realizes how clueless she’s been.

Information about the Director
Please refer to the link for Fast Times at Ridgemont High for information about the director, Amy Heckerling.

Genre
Comedy; Drama; Romance; Teen movie

Curriculum Ties
English/ Language Arts; this film is loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel, Emma

Why Included?
The Valley girl talk is hilarious and makes the audience realize just how ridiculous is sounds to say “like” all the time. Because this movie has so many parallels to the novel Emma, it’s even more interesting. It makes the story and lessons of Emma more relatable to a younger generation. This is, like, a fun movie to watch.