Directed by Amy Heckerling and released in 1995, Clueless is one of the most iconic coming-of-age films of the late 20th century, known for its brilliant fashion, charming characters, and romance. 

The film follows high school student and queen bee Cher Horowitz as she navigates her high school life with her best friend, Dionne Davenport, her love life, and her discovery of who she is beyond the stereotypical label others see her as. Similar to many films from the second half of the 20th century, the themes of labeling, identity, and individuality are present throughout ‘Clueless’. From perceiving others through a specific lens and making assumptions, to others stereotyping her and facing difficulties, many teenagers have dealt with issues, including peer pressure. With her father being a major lawyer in Beverly Hills, Cher is exceptionally gifted in persuasion and arguing her way to success. When she finds herself in a situation where one of her teachers was not amenable to her attempts to improve the grade he gave her on her report card, she and Dionne began trying to set him up with a math teacher. Cher is also very nurturing, especially toward her father and friends. One of my absolute favorite moments in the film is the conversation Cher’s father, Mel, had with her when she told him about her boy problems and was self-deprecating, and he instantly shut that down by making it clear how valuable she was and how helpful she was to him. I really wish there were more scenes between Mel and Cher because in the time that they were on screen, they quickly became one of my all-time favorite father-daughter duos. Although she was not always very book-smart and was quite clueless in certain regards, she was far from a fool overall, and in fields she was passionate about, she would indeed be knowledgeable. 

Cher’s father had briefly been married to a woman who had a child named Josh Lucus, several years older than Cher. The ex-stepsiblings are very different from each other, sparking lots of banter and tension. Josh had a stereotypical view of her before he genuinely got to know her, and his feelings for her grew from attraction to respect and love. Cher’s realization that she loved Josh, a man of more substance than the boys she had previously been interested in, made her want to be a better person and make a contribution to the world, not just to impress him, but for herself. 

“Clueless” is one of the most popular ’90s movies in America, bringing so many artifacts of slang and iconic quotes. Since Cher narrates this film, the audience gets to see how her internal monologue changes in certain ways, stays true to her character in others, and offers a window into the mind of a teenage girl. Additionally, the film presents an insight into the culture, for better or worse. “Clueless” is a hilarious film, with phenomenal casting and beautiful cinema for a high school movie; I highly recommend it.