The favorite film:
Clueless, a 1995 Paramount teen comedy written and directed by Amy Heckerling

(Image via The Daily Beast)

The synopsis:
The lifestyle of Beverly Hills teens is parodied through the character of Cher – a pretty, popular and peppy high schooler – and her friends as they struggle with their grades, fall in love and fight the daily battle of choosing shoes that match their sweaters.

Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy and Stacey Dash (Image via Fanpop)

The cast:
Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz
Stacey Dash as Dionne
Brittany Murphy as Tai
Paul Rudd as Josh
Dan Hedaya as Mel Horowitz
Donald Faison as Murray
Justin Walker as Christian
Breckin Meyer as Travis
Jeremy Sisto as Elton
Elisa Donovan as Amber
Wallace Shawn as Mr. Hall
Twink Caplan as Miss Geist

Fun facts:

  • Amy Heckerling originally intended the story as TV series, but it was shot down. Ironically, a spinoff TV show was later produced, starring Rachel Blanchard as Cher.
  • None of the actors in the film were well-known when the film was released.
  • Stacey Dash was 27 when the film was shot. She portrays the best friend of Alicia Silverstone, who was 18 at the time of filming. Dash is three years older than Paul Rudd, whose character in this film is a college student.
  • The Mighty Mighty Bosstones make a cameo as the band performing at one of the parties.
  • Cher pronounces Haitians as “hate-e-ans” in one of the classroom scenes because Alicia Silverstone didn’t know how to pronounce the word. Amy Heckerling thought the flub was perfect for Cher’s character, so she decided to keep it.
  • Amy Heckerling’s script is inspired by Jane Austen’s novel, “Emma.”
  • The high school in the film is named after the father of Louisa May Alcott, who wrote “Little Women.”
  • Alicia Silverstone did not have to audition for her role. Heckerling wanted to hire “the girl from the Aerosmith videos.”

Favorite things:

(Image via Jane Austen Film Club)
  • Cher’s outfit selector machine
  • Awesome ’90s soundtrack
  • Cher’s terrible driving
  • Everything about Mr. Hall (and his romance with Miss Geist)
  • Bad grades? Jump out of the school window!
  • Everything about Cher’s dad
  • Travis’ speech about tardiness
  • All of the students with rhinoplasty bandages
  • Weekend homework: HAVE FUN!
  • Semi-wacky wardrobes
  • Elton’s dance moves – or really, everybody’s dance moves
  • Shaved heads: They’re the BOMB!
  • Cher getting mugged and crying not because she’s getting mugged, but only because her clothes will get dirty. Forget the fact that there’s a deadly weapon pointed at you – “He forced me to ruin my dress!”
  • Tai burning all of her memories of Elton
  • Travis donating his drug paraphernalia to the Pismo Beach disaster relief
  • Josh and Cher: Film’s greatest ex-step sibling couple!
  • Mr. Hall and Miss Geist’s wedding
(Image via Fanpop)
  • Quotes:
    • Cher: “He fights with me for free, ’cause I’m his daughter.”
    • Cher: “She’s my friend, because we both know what it’s like to have people be jealous of us.”
    • Elton: “I can’t find my Cranberries CD.”
    • Cher: “The columns date all the way back to 1972!”
    • Cher: “I have direction.”
      Josh: “Yeah, towards the mall.”
    • Cher: “I was surfing the crimson wave. I had to haul ass to the ladies’.”
    • Cher: “Travis, Tai would have wanted you to enjoy the party.”
    • Cher: “Ugh, you are a snob and a half.”
    • Tai: “If I’m too good for him, then how come I’m not WITH him?”
    • Tai: “Oh, God… they’re playing our song. […] Rollin’ with the hooooomies.”
    • Mr. Horowitz: “Anything happens to my daughter, I’ve got a .45 and a shovel. I doubt anybody would miss you.”
    • Cher: “He does dress better than I do. What would I bring to the relationship?”
    • Cher: “That was way harsh, Tai.”

This post is a part of the Nostalgiathon Blogathon, hosted by Andy Watches Movies and Cinema Schminema.