Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him.
Clueless is a witty, sharply written modernization of Jane Austen's Emma transplanted to 1990s Beverly Hills, and its distinctive voice — the valley-girl vernacular, candy-colored aesthetic, and satirical yet warm take on teen social dynamics — makes it genuinely singular in the teen comedy genre. Alicia Silverstone's performance as Cher is charismatic and surprisingly layered, and the ensemble is well-cast, but the acting is solid rather than exceptional. Cinematography is functional and era-appropriate with pleasing pastel visuals but nothing groundbreaking. The plot is fleet and clever in its first two acts, though it relies on familiar rom-com scaffolding borrowed directly from Austen. The ending, while satisfying on a surface level, is a bit rushed and the romantic resolution between Cher and Josh feels undercooked and slightly awkward given their quasi-familial dynamic.