Ugh, As If!: 'Clueless' Turns 30
By Isabella Kelly-Goss
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
On July 19, 1995, writer and director Amy Heckerling gave us a pop culture masterpiece that would influence generations to come. Adapted from Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless is turning 30. To commemorate this monumental milestone, here are three totally major reasons why we’re still in love with the ‘90s teen time capsule.
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
The Fashion:
Naturally, when everyone thinks of Cher (Alicia Silverstone) from Clueless, they think of her iconic three-piece, yellow, plaid skirt-suit. Since the release, many have paid homage to the look (Iggy Azalea’s Fancy music video comes to mind), and it’s definitely Cher’s most memorable outfit. Of course, there’s also the Calvin Klein slip dress that Josh (Paul Rudd) points out, in a twinge of jealousy, needed a jacket.
Then, there’s always Dionne’s [Stacey Dash] bold choices. Her most iconic piece, to me, will always be the hat that Cher assumes came from a shopping spree with Dr. Seuss. Many a BFF Halloween costume has come from the black and white three-piece suit that matches Cher’s.
However, I must say that my favorite fashion choices come during Tai’s (Brittany Murphy) ever-lovable montage. I never get tired of watching the Kool-Aid red dye wash from her hair before she comes to love the DIY crop top cut around her as she looks in the mirror. While I could never deny the icon status of Cher and Dionne’s outfits, Tai’s adorable sense of style speaks to me.
The little purses, the chunky shoes, and chunkier phones really help establish the time period in a way that is nothing short of perfect.
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
The Love Story:
Okay, this one is controversial. But, hear me out on this one! Josh and Cher are enemies-to-lovers at its finest. While the age gap (only 2 years) and their (very short, very former) step-sibling relationship are not my favorite elements of the movie, I think their relationship supersedes these issues.
Josh and Cher’s parents were “hardly even married to each other,” and yet, Josh continues to come around. He enjoyed Cher, though slightly critical of her less-than-pleasant personality traits, even before her blossoming transformation. Josh made Cher want to be a better person, and Cher made Josh want to be a little less pretentious. Josh was always there when she needed him, and she took his opinion to heart. They truly do, in the best ways, embody Emma and George Knightley’s relationship. They bettered each other, and they worked well in all settings, which can be hard to find in a RomCom. Their first kiss, after Josh stands up for her and reassures her that her value lies beyond the societal expectations of an Airheaded Heiress, is nothing short of a coming-of-age romance.
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
I would also like to throw an honorable mention to Miss Geist and Mr. Hall’s relationship that ends in a wedding at the end of the movie. Emma’s entire personality throughout the novel relies on her prestigious skills as a matchmaker. While Cher initially has selfish intentions behind their union, she still seeks to bring two people she truly believes would work well together. She often finds joy in setting people up and rarely thinks of herself throughout. So, with that, and Mr. and Mrs. Hall in mind, I think we can let her slide just that once.
Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
The Script:
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the script. After all, “Ugh, as if!” lives in my vocabulary. The script seals itself as a landmark in time with other ‘90s phrases like “totally buggin’,” “total betty,” and “Marky Mark.” Okay, Marky Mark isn’t a phrase, but no one refers to Mark Wahlberg like that, or his “busy pants dropping schedule,” these days.
The characters, paired next to the originals in Emma, are wonderfully executed. If you’re interested in comparing, which I highly recommend, you should watch Autumn De Wilde’s Emma (2020) and Clueless back to back. Heckerling seemed to embody the soul of a teenage sleazebag as she wrote Elton in the most perfect way to bring the vapid reverend by the same name to life. Mia Goth’s Harriet Smith is honestly a wonderful comparison to Murphy’s Tai. Tai retains Harriet’s innocent sweetness in a way that is still believable of a teenage girl on the cusp of the digital age.
The way Dionne is adapted from the nurturing Miss Taylor as the more experienced, “wiser” friend is a genius way to forgo adding an awkward nanny character in the mix.
While the plot is not identical, the way Heckerling captures Emma Woodhouse’s character development from a selfish, yet well-meaning heiress to a beautiful young woman who cares for the world around her as a Beverly Hills teen in the 20th century shows a true understanding of the original text.
In this climate, I feel it is incredibly necessary to mention Cher’s open immigration policy. She is incredibly pro-refugee and pro-immigration throughout the course of the film, from beginning to end. Her line, “May I remind you, it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty,” is something we could all benefit from remembering today.
One of the better classic literature adaptations of our time, I have no doubt that Clueless’ cultural relevance will see myself and others reminiscing about the film for another 30 years to come.
