Clueless

Universal Pictures (Producers), & Wain, David (Director). (2008)
Schroeder, Adam, & Berg, Barry (Producers), and Heckerling, Amy, Director (1995).

Plot
Jane Austen’s Emma reset in Beverly Hills. Teenage Cher, the treasured only daughter of a wealthy irascible litigator, stcks her fashionable nose into other people’s business. Confident of her judgment in both fashion and love, Cher fist sets up a match between her dorky debate teacher and a frazzled but kindly social studies teacher. She befriends the desperately in need of a makeover Tai, and after her success with the teachers, tries to match Tai with her friend Elton, son of a famous record producer. She also takes an interest for herself in the infrequent visitor, Christian, who loves musicals and dresses really well. All through her machinations her ex-step brother Josh keeps an eye on her, criticizes her behavior freely, and gives her the benefit of all his college-age wisdom. As her plans begin to unravel, just like the real Emma Cher has to learn the hard way that she was clueless all along

Reader’s Annotation
Like the original Emma, Beverly Hills teen Cher is handsome, clever, and rich, and thinks she knows not only what she wants, but what’s best for everybody else—too bad she’s totally clueless

Critique
I loved this movie when it was new and recently reviewed it for use in the classroom—strangely enough not for use with Emma, but trolling for humorous debate scenes—Clueless has a great one. The movie holds up very well, It is so well-written—Amy Heckerling has a gift for being eloquent and expressing character through the playful use of signature varieties of slang . The teen dialog is still a very recognizable exaggeration of the speech patterns of my students, and the modern versions of the Emma plot and characters are ingenious.

Genre
YA Comedy

Curriculum Ties
English

Booktalking Ideas
A perfect match?
The outfits and designers—use pictures
Show Cher’s campus tour; compare to local school cultures
The Slang of Clueless

Reading Level/Interest Age
PG-13—13 and up

Challenge Issues

Very mild sexual content—gay friend; teen sexuality

Be knowledgeable about the book and prepared to discuss it calmly. Provide complaint form per board policy;
Gather student responses; Share
New Yorker review excerpted on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Clueless-Alicia-Silverstone/dp/B00001MXXE
popular press reviews/lists summarixed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clueless_(film)#Reception

Why Included?
Considering excerpts for high school classroom use

Selection Tools
Popular press and magazine reviews

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