Today marks 30 years of Clueless starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, and the late Brittany Murphy. The film is a classic, one of the best teen movies and arguably the best and most influential teen movie of the 1990's. A case definitely could be made for American Pie, and maybe She's All That, but neither are as influential as this movie.
In celebration I decided to watch the movie for the 10,000th time, and offer 30 random thoughts on it.
1. Rich or not, the opening montage really gave a 9 year old kid, a false sense of how my teen years would be.
2. Cher picking her outfit for the day through the power of her computer, was ahead of its time.
3. Dionne's intro attire is still iconic. It's a Halloween staple, my wife and I plan to dress up as Dionne and Murray one year. She will be wearing that dress.
4. It was clever for the Christian character to be introduced via word of mouth. Before we actually got to see him, it seemed like a throwaway line but was brilliant.
5. Who would have thought 20 years later, the slacker step-brother would be saving the world with an ant army.
6. The joke of everyone reaching for their cell phone at the dinner table, didnt age too well.
7. When you think about it, Cher was very resourceful and cunning at 15 years old. I wish I had the negotiation skills at that age, hell even now.
8. Tai's introduction to her fellow classmates is very real. People just stare at you and never say hello these days.
9. Maybe its a Hollywood trope, maybe its a cultural thing. Maybe I didnt care enough in school. My high school experience did not involve alot of "cliques".
10. All these years later, I've never figured out if Dionne just tolerated Tai but couldnt stand some of her quirks. Or she really didn't like her.
11. No matter what role he's in, Jeremy Sisto will always be Elton to me.
12. I shouldnt have known this as a 9 year old, but it took me a few years to realize Travis was a pothead.
13. It's evident the character Summer was apart of Cher's circle. I feel like she was involved more in the film in previous drafts, but when edits and cuts needed to be made. That role was minimized.
14. On that note, Amber was simply a major antagonist in the film. Not even an antagonist, she was just competition for Cher. I'm glad she got some character development in the TV series.
15. I don't know much about The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, couldn't name 5 songs of theirs. When they are playing Someday I Suppose, I wanted to be at that party.
16. The freeway scene definitely played in my head when I first learned to drive, and getting on the highway came up.
17. Speaking of Dionne and Murray were a hilarious couple. In a random, where are those characters now moment? I wonder how many kids they have and if they still bicker all the time?
18. Tai's sudden popularity and personality change, definitely took plot points from 1987's Can't Buy Me Love.
19. Though the scene and joke is meant to show how much Cher lives in her bubble, The "I am not a Mexican" line would not fly today.
20. When it comes to words that cut deep, Tai's most famous line is classic.
21. Never noticed Cher was drinking Starbucks, which probably was no more than 5 years old at that point. Again, ahead of it's time.
22. Also, amazing how once Cher and Tai become friends again. She's already plotting that Tai no longer is interested in Josh.
23.Although they are not blood related, I still will never understand how Cher and Josh becoming a couple was approved throughout the entire filmmaking process.
24. Not only that, Josh is a college student but it's never really confirmed how old he actually is. Did anyone think of these things?
25. I never realized until now that Ms. Geist and Mr. Hall's wedding was probably at Cher's house.
26. Lucy the housekeeper waiting for the bouquet to be thrown, in her work attire caught my eye, and made me go hmmmm.
27. I wonder how much Cher's dad charged them to have at their home.
28.Tenderness by the duo General Public was about 10 years old when it played over the end credits. It still hits all these years later.
29. Twink Caplan who played Ms. Geist was an associate producer on the film, and an executive producer on the spin-off TV show. Hot damn she was Kristie Alley's best friend in Look Who's Talking 1 and 2. Random things you learn.
30. Speaking of the TV show, it ran for three seasons from 1996-1999 first on ABC and then UPN. While not a great series it helped build the world and lore the film had set, and Tubi or Pluto need to grab the rights to it.
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