Paramount's 25th anniversary of Clueless doesn't provide anything new technically, but does offer a very nice collectible Steelbook for the film, which still holds up after two and a half decades.
“After 25 years, Clueless remains a smart, charming, and hilarious classic that truly captures what it was like to be a teen in the 1990s. Alicia Silverstone shines as the 15-year-old Beverly Hills High School student who thrives on shopping, enjoys the perfect social life, and plays matchmaker to all her friends… just don’t ask her who she’s dating, AS IF!
Directed by Amy Heckerling, the movie also stars Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, Donald Faison, Stacey Dash, and Wallace Shawn.”
Clueless follows Cher (Alicia Silverstone), a teenager in Beverly Hills, popular at her school, navigating and manipulating the social hierarchy of teenage life. Based off of the Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma, Cher finds herself somewhat as a matchmaker, trying to pull the strings of those around her, genuinely seeming to want people to find happiness, but also to have those around her adore her. Her newest project: a new student in school, Tai (Brittany Murphy), who doesn’t seem like she would fit into her social circles, but nonetheless takes her in to transform her into a popular girl.
It had been decades since I had seen Clueless, with no idea back then of the subject matter it was based off of. After just recently seeing the most recent adaptation of Emma on screen, I was anxious to check it out again to compare iterations of the source material with a better appreciation of the social commentary I was blind to as a teenager myself.
What Clueless does best is to update those themes for a modern audience. Despite the 90s seeming to be forever ago, with no one dressing that way or saying phrases like “phat” anymore, those types of social situations are still closer to what audiences of today would recognize as opposed to the gentry society they would in the book or adapted films. Cher’s desire to do good isn’t only limited to her meddling with relationships in her social circle, but is now expanded to worldwide events like helping the less fortunate with food drives and fundraisers, trying to figure out how best to contribute to the world she lives in. This, along with her passion for shopping and designer clothes makes the film much more accessible for these modern audiences. While it doesn’t rely as much as the source material on the matchmaking aspect, this shift definitely helps keep the viewer entertained and engaged with what a normal teenage girl may be experiencing in this day and age. As far removed as we are from this gentry social society, it’s fascinating how social circles still exist, and how people continue to be excluded from them based on some trait.
As fun as the film can be, it wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining if it weren’t for the cast. A relative unknown at the time except for several Aerosmith videos, Alicia Silverstone didn’t even have to audition for her role as Cher. Her naivety is genuine in some scenes, like not knowing how to pronounce Hatian during her debate in which she compares them coming to America like a big birthday party. She’s a perfect Cher, and brings that endearing quality of care and compassion, although sometimes misguided. In one of his first major roles, Paul Rudd was able to show his comedic ability very early on. Although not as prominent as his career would demonstrate he could be, he still has a big presence on screen as the eventual love interest. The rest of the supporting cast have pretty much all gone on to do some great things, and it’s always fun to see their roots early on in their careers.
Video
Clueless is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. This disc is the exact same as the previous Blu-ray release from Paramount, containing the same transfer. The film looks good, with no major issues noted. The picture is very clear and detailed, keeping the grain at a consistent level. Very vibrant colors, highlighted especially on the different designed outfits these girls wear, balanced well against the background of the different sets/locations.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds good as well, and with a film like Clueless, you aren’t going to be expecting any shootouts or explosions, but mostly dialogue. The track is well balanced, the center channel getting most attention while the surrounds take advantage of different atmospheric effects and most of all the 90s soundtrack which brings back some good memories.
Special Features
For this 25th anniversary release, instead of doing anything new for the disc, Paramount has only given us a new steelbook for the film. Although the yellow plaid is a bit ugly for my taste, it’s perfect for the film. Steelbook enthusiasts will enjoy this one.
The rest of the extras are identical to previous Blu-ray releases and include:
- Clue or False Trivia Game
- The Class of ’95 – A look at the cast, then and now
- Creative Writing with Writer/Director Amy Heckerling
- Fashion 101
- Language Arts
- “Suck ‘N Blow” – A Tutorial
- Driver’s Ed
- We’re History – Stories from the cast and crew
- Trailers HD
Clueless has endured 25 years and is still relevant today as much as Austen’s Emma. While the stories are vastly different, the substance and spirit of the two are very much alike, focusing on a commentary on society we continue to accept centuries later. Clueless still holds up as a smart, poignant film that still manages to entertain whether or not you pay attention to the themes embedded inside.
