From Cher's love of fashion to all of the '90s slang, Clueless is a classic movie that will always entertain audiences. It's a comforting story about friendship, love, moving beyond appearances, and learning about what's inside. Fans appreciate Cher's journey as she realizes that she is "totally clueless" and should be a much nicer person. The movie has a positive message and that makes it stand out, as it's not just another teen tale about fashion and makeovers.
Although not every part of Clueless has aged well, the movie still portrays teenage life in an intelligent and relatable way. From Cher and Dionne's thoughts and behavior to their relationships with the people in their lives.
Being Concerned With Fashion And Makeovers
Some of the fashion choices in Clueless are relevant and wanting to wear trendy clothing is definitely a staple of teenage life. The movie gets this exactly right, as Cher and Dionne love dres for school and social gatherings, and when they meet the new girl at school, Tai, she goes along with their idea to give her a makeover.
While Tai is great the way she is, she does enjoy the chance to try on some new clothes and get her hair done. Young adults are always finding their style and figuring out what they like and don't like.
First Love
Josh is a sweet person and it's no wonder that Cher falls for him. As Cher realizes that she should be with him, this love story ends the movie and also proves that Clueless knows what young adulthood is all about.
Cher experiences the joys of first love, and before she and Josh find their way to each other, she's totally confused about her dating life. It takes her a while to feel secure and confident enough to be with the right person.
Family Complications
After losing her mom, Cher lives with her lawyer father Mel, who is mean and intimidating. She's often frustrated by the strict rules that he sets in place for the household.
The movie also deals with family issues, as this can be a tough part of being a teenager. While Cher wants to be independent, she's still young and living with her dad, and when he gives her a curfew or tells her to come home from a party, she has no choice but to listen.
Wanting To Be Cool And Well-Liked
Cher has an awakening about herself by the end of Clueless, but before this point, she's all about being cool and beloved at school and in her friend group.
It's very important to Cher and Dionne that they stay popular, and when they meet Tai, they even want her to be the exact same as them. This is very true to teenage life as it's hard not to want to be cool and it takes a while to realize that being unique is actually irable and wonderful.
Talking About Sex
The characters in Clueless are in different places when it comes to their dating lives. Cher shares that she's a virgin and that she'd like to wait until she finds the right person, and Dionne and Murray have been in a serious relationship for a while but are waiting as well. It's after Dionne almost gets into a car accident that she and Murray become closer and begin sleeping together.
Clueless gets this part of being a teenager right, as Cher and her friends discuss losing their virginity and they respect that they are at different stages. The characters talk about sex so often that when Tai wants to hurt Cher's feelings later in the movie, she says, "You're a virgin who can't drive," and Cher says that was too harsh.
Envy Within A Friend Group
Clueless is known for its funny slang and the movie also does a good job portraying how jealous friends can be of one another.
When Tai becomes popular, she gets full of herself and suddenly Cher feels like she's on the outside looking in. She wonders why Tai is acting this way and realizes that the makeover was most likely a mistake. Experiencing envy in a social circle is definitely part of the teenage experience, as everyone feels that their place in the group is on shaky ground.
Thinking Teachers Should Be "Cooler"
When Cher sets up Miss Geist and Mr. Hall, it seems nice because they have a good connection and seem thrilled to be together.
But Cher is also used to meddling in other people's lives because she wants to feel a sense of control over her life, and she wants the teachers at her school to be "cooler." It's true that many young adults wish that their teachers acted differently or seemed more like the students themselves.
The Stress Of Driving Lessons
All Cher wants is to her driving test, but throughout the movie, this proves to be a tough goal to achieve.
Cher is super stressed out during her driving lessons as she's not the best driver and she struggles to get the hang of it. This is another way that this popular movie gets being a teenager right, as many teens want to get their license and spend hours learning the ways of the road.
Trying New Hobbies And Wanting To Be A Better Person
Everyone re the amazing fashion choices in Clueless, and besides being amazing at putting together outfits for any occasion, as the movie progresses, Cher is also determined to change herself.
She tries new hobbies, becoming interested in the environment and wanting to help others, and she knows that being a good person is a worthy goal. This is not only inspiring to watch but also a relevant part of being a teenager. It's the perfect time to try new interests and see what sticks.
Having A Rivalry With Another Classmate
Cher and Amber don't get along and a classic Clueless scene is when Cher gives a school presentation and Amber makes a "whatever" sign as she doesn't want to present.
These two characters strongly dislike each other, competing for social status and being the most fashionable. While people can look back and say that it was immature and silly, it's easy to have rivalries in high school, as emotions and tensions run high.
