CLUELESS

Name: CLUELESS
Item: CLUELESS
Author: Review

"As If! CLUELESS Turns 30!"

Family Content: -2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

What You Need To Know:

Paramount's CLUELESS is a classic feel-good teen romantic comedy about a confident Beverly Hills teenager who uses her popularity to care for those around her, while finding herself in need of a spiritual makeover that leads her to find true love where she least expects. This classic movie is an adaptation of Jane Austin's novel, Emma, transplanting the beloved characters to a 1990s high school in Beverly Hills, California. Even 30 years later, CLUELESS can be considered the quintessential teen romantic comedy and coming-of-age tale that sparks nostalgia.

With a moral worldview, this film truly captures teenage life in the nineties through the arguably unrealistic and unattainable teen lifestyle of a wealthy girl who finds meaning in her life through positive contributions. Here, the roles of popularity, sex, and morality are explored through the lens of an adolescent perspective standing before adulthood. Due to some mild sexually suggestive scenes and innuendo, occasional mild profanities, portrayal of a gay character, outdated misogynic behaviors, a girl held over a second-story balcony at a mall, and depictions of both teen alcohol and drug use. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for young teens and sensitive adults.

Content:

(BB, Ho, LL, V, S, AAA, DD, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

A strong moral worldview is present, despite the initial selfishness of Cher. Even being the stereotype of a young, rich, shallow blonde initially, Cher shows a promising amount of depth and intelligence behind her Barbie façade but hasn’t mature yet and this is what the plot centers on. While selfish in her motivations, which is not out of place for a teenage girl, she does truly care about the people around her, who are drawn to her confidence. The story is really about her character growth, going from selfish and shallow to understanding the complexities of others and their nuances while figuring out how to use her popularity and social know-how to help others. As the plot progresses, so does her pursuit of doing more good things and is ultimately encouraged by her father comparing her to her good like her deceased-mother. Her moral growth shows her that everyone is worth more time and effort and making her a better person in return, reflecting true Christian ideals. However, religion is not discussed in the film. As a teenage film, wild reckless behavior and rather dangerous situations are found throughout. A gay character is introduced, but the morals of such are not discussed but he is accepted as her friend;

Foul Language:

At least 11 instances of “God” or “Oh my god”, 12 obscenities (b****, a**, and sh** often used), a teenager vomiting into a swimming pool at a party, a woman shown in a traffic giving the middle finger, Cher using the word “retarded” to describe her forgetfulness, the driving test instructor jokingly refers to himself as the “Messiah” of the DMV;

Violence:

One scene where two teenage boys hold Tai over the railing of a second-story balcony at the mall, claiming it was a joke. Cher is robbed at gunpoint in a parking lot. As a terrible driver, Cher sideswipes her Jeep into a parked car and almost hits a bike rider;

Sex:

Sexually suggestive, some sexual talk, flirtation scenes, but no sex is shown. Many references to the girl’s virginity (or “hymnally challenged”) and them having sex. Some sexual harassment including a scene where Cher refuses to kiss a boy in his car: he gets angry at her and leaves her in a parking lot;

Nudity:

No nudity;

Alcohol Use:

Teens are shown at a party with heavy drinking, drunkenness, and reckless actions. Travis, a stoner kid, refers to being in a “12 step” program implying AA;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

Teens are shown smoking marijuana at a party, but Cher and Dionne mention that being “baked” all day is not the way to be and that stoners aren’t who a well-respected girl should date and she shouldn’t be one either. There is also a joke where Tai misunderstands that they mean Coke the soda for the drug;

Miscellaneous Immorality:

A gay character portrayed, Cher’s father divorced but circumstances are unknown, one scene where Cher is held at gunpoint and robbed in a parking lot but no attacks or injuries, Tai recklessly falls more than once. There are outdated views on eating disorders where Cher often talks about how much of a “Heffer” she is but minimally eats. Also, a teen tries to jump out of a window due to getting a bad grade, but the scene is posed as more of a joke than a serious attempt. A couple references to menstruation.

More Detail:

Paramount’s CLUELESS is a classic feel-good teen romantic comedy about a confident Beverly Hills teenager who uses her popularity to care for those around her, while finding herself in need of a spiritual makeover that ultimately leads her to find true love where she least expects. This classic movie is an adaptation of Jane Austin’s novel, Emma, transplanting the beloved characters to a 1990s high school in Beverly Hills, California.

Even 30 years later, CLUELESS can be considered the quintessential teen romantic comedy, sparking nostalgia for many. With a strong moral worldview, this film truly captures teenage life in the nineties through the arguably unrealistic and unattainable teen lifestyle of a wealthy girl who finds meaning in her life through positive contributions. Here, the roles of popularity, class, sex, and morality are explored through the lens of a naïve teenage perspective standing before adulthood.

In an unconventional take for the period, characters are often presented as shallow but are surprisingly wise and intelligent. Due to some mild sexually suggestive scenes and innuendo, occasional mild profanities, portrayal of a gay character, outdated misogynic behaviors, a girl held over a second-story balcony at a mall, and depictions of both teen alcohol and drug use. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for young teens and sensitive adults.

Cher lives in Beverly Hills in the 1990s. She’s a beautiful fashionista whose life revolves around clothes, shopping, family, and social life: all introduced in the beginning scenes. Her life is well-privileged thanks to Mel, her father, and a very busy, high-powered litigator. As her mother passed away when Cher was an infant, she took it on herself to take care of her dad, a workaholic. While getting ready to leave for the day, Mel mentions that Josh, her stepbrother, will be stopping by for dinner. Five years prior, Mel had been briefly married to another woman; however, he still treats his then-stepson, Josh, as his own, vehemently stating, “You divorce wives, not children.” Cher and Josh do not get along well – she is a popular high-schooler with no direction, and he is an intelligent college student studying environmental law.

Cher’s best friend, Dionne, is also a wealthy socialite. Dionne is dating Murray, who argues often. Cher questions why Dionne would stay with him when all he seemingly does is harass her, but Dionne avoids answering. Cher explains that she would never consider dating any high school boy, mainly because of their immaturity. Later, Dionne and Murray’s relationship inspires Cher, serving as an example of her growth.

In class, Mr. Hall, the awkward debate teacher, Cher delivers a rushed debate, but shows she is a quick, gifted debater. Report cards are distributed, and she finds that somehow, she has a “C” in debate. Horrified, she vows to turn the grade around before her father finds out.

During dinner with Josh, Mel chastises Cher for not having direction like Josh and asks about her report card. She claims it isn’t ready, and she will be negotiating grades further. Mel seems proud of her effort and answers a work call on his cellphone, leaving dinner early. Josh calls her a space cadet and questions how she will change her grades. She responds that she’s accomplished it many times, and Josh is incredulous.

Dionne and Cher go to the mall, and Dionne mentions that Mr. Hall is a stubborn, miserable man, so Cher decides to figure out a way to make him happy. She needs to find him a girlfriend and targets Miss Geist, another schoolteacher who is a terrible dresser. Cher is her only hope for a makeover to attract Mr. Hall. She devises and executes a plan to get them together. She finds that doing good things for others using both her social and fashion prowess brings her a true sense of pride.

After receiving a series of traffic tickets, Mel forbids Cher to drive without a licensed driver until she has her license. Unfortunately, Josh is the only person available. While in her Jeep, Josh says he needs to get back to college as his group is having Marky-Mark come to plant a tree. She asks why the celebrity would waste his time. Josh suggests that he might want to use his popularity for good, unlike Cher, who is just selfish.

The next day, a new student arrives at school: a clueless girl named Tai. Cher decides that Tai will be the perfect project for Cher to make an unselfish contribution: teaching her how to be popular. Turns out, Cher learns how to be a better person, leading her to find true love where she least expects it.

This quotable film is a nostalgic classic with iconic fashion that is still entertaining even after 30 years. A unique take on familiar teenage rom-com tropes that challenge the stereotypes, CLUELESS reveals that people are deeper and capable of kindness despite social status. There is plenty of on-screen chemistry between the love interests, and quotes that are still recognizable today (“As if!”)