From slang like "totally buggin'" to every day being a fashion show, there's so much to enjoy about Clueless. Valley girl Cher Horowitz is a classic character and her desire to better herself and make over new student Tai is a favorite story. The movie also has romance, quirky teachers, and serves up a lot of nostalgia for the '90s.
While Clueless is a hilarious '90s movie and there are many scenes and characters who will always be fan favorites, some other moments are problematic and bring up some questions today.
10 Holds Up: High Schoolers Who Love Fashion
One part of Clueless that still holds up today is the fashion. The characters may only be in high school, but they have access to their parents' large bank accounts and, as a result, wear some incredible clothes that perfectly capture the '90s.
This aspect of the movie is great as without the famous plaid outfits that Cher and Dionne wear, or the black-and-white gym class ensembles, it wouldn't be so enjoyable and entertaining. '90s fashion is often awkward and shapeless, but these outfits are fun.
9 Didn't Age Well: The Concept Of A Makeover
Cher giving Tai a makeover is the hallmark of Clueless and other teen movies; the montage is one of the most popular parts.
Even though fans love watching Tai transform, is this really a storyline that works well today? The movie is suggesting there's something about Tai warranting those changes, when in reality, she's smart, already beautiful, and unique. She connects with Travis, which proves she can find friends even without Cher's help, and if she didn't get caught up in wanting to be popular and loved, it seems like she would have been just fine. This isn't the most encouraging message for the movie to put out.
8 Holds Up: Dionne Tells Murray To Be More Respectful
There's a scene when Murray shaves his head and Dionne can't stop yelling at him. She thinks it was a horrible decision to make and since she intends to marry him and have a family, she can't believe she will have to show her grandkids photos of him with this hairstyle.
One memorable part of Clueless that still works today is Dionne's wish for Murray to be more respectful. She shows him she deserves nothing less than love and respect, and she wants him to speak to her politely. Dionne is a strong character who can inspire many young girls to expect themselves to be in a loving, mutually respectful relationship.
7 Didn't Age Well: Elton Assaults Cher
Elton isn't a nice or likable character and while Cher wants to fix him up with Tai, she sees the real him when he drives her home after a party. He makes sexual advances on her and when she says no, he kicks her out of the car.
This is one area where Clueless didn't age well, as Elton is shown as a cool, popular, and handsome guy, and while Cher's opinion of him changes after he assaults her, it doesn't change his social status at school. Cher should have told someone about what happened and the movie should have treated this storyline with more care and attention.
6 Holds Up: Cher Realizes She's More Naïve Than She Thought
Near the end of Clueless, Cher is upset because she doesn't do well on her driving test and Tai insults her. Makeover stories often result in "creating a monster" and Tai does act like she's much better and more popular than Cher, which is upsetting.
Cher realizes she's more naïve than she thought and she might need to stop thinking about her own life and help others. She becomes interested in social issues and wants to work hard, which is new for her, and she starts feeling really good about herself.
5 Didn't Age Well: Cher And Josh
While Josh and Cher's love story is memorable, it brings up a few questions today.
First off, Josh is Cher's former stepbrother, and they didn't grow up together. Over time, though, Cher finds herself becoming attracted to Josh. One issue here is Josh is of college age, whereas Cher is 15-16-years old in the movie; the age difference may not fly today. Another matter regarding Josh and Cher is the fact they were once legally related. This element continues to be debated when discussing Clueless through modern lenses.
4 Holds Up: Talking About Relevant Young Adult Issues
The characters in Clueless are open with each other about thinking about having sex for the first time, wanting to pass their driving test, and their thoughts and feelings about what they're eating or wearing.
When it comes to the subjects that teenagers care about, this movie is still relevant, even though many years have passed since its 1995 release. These conversation topics are timeless.
3 Didn't Age Well: Cher's Dad Is Strict And Overprotective
Cher's dad is a rich lawyer and he can also be pretty intimidating. From the beginning of the movie, Cher makes it clear that he gets paid a lot because he's scary and yells.
Mel is very strict and overprotective, freaking out if Cher goes too far from home or doesn't "negotiate" for better grades (meaning, begging her teachers for higher marks). This part of the movie doesn't hold up well, as Mel just seems cold and harsh. It's hard to tell if he loves his daughter.
2 Holds Up: Having Conflict With Another Friend/Classmate
Fans remember Amber's desire to be popular, along with the tension between her, Cher, and Dionne.
It's impossible for everyone in the same grade or friend group to get along, so the fact that the main characters think that Amber is mean is very true to life and easy to relate to. This is a dynamic that still holds up today. Amber and Cher are often vying for power and position, even wearing the same dress to a party.
1 Didn't Age Well: Stereotyping The Character Of Christian
Cher likes new classmate Christian right away and invites him over. She attempts to be seductive, but then later, Murray tells her Christian is gay.
While this could have been handled more respectfully and carefully, the movie's treatment of Christian is full of stereotypes. Murray says, "Your man Christian is a cake boy!" and continues, "He's a disco-dancing, Oscar Wilde-reading, Streisand ticket-holding friend of Dorothy" and Dionne says "He does like to shop, Cher. And the boy can dress." It's hard to imagine this conversation taking place now, but Clueless is a product of a time where homophobia was more apparent in the media than it is today.
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April 07, 2021 at 05:30AM
