What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the movie contains some strong
language, scenes of teens drinking and taking drugs, and some
implied sex. There's also a lot of therapeutic shopping. It's
edgy, but teens can handle it.
Families can talk about the ways that Cher is less than honest with herself about her motivations for her "good deeds," and what different choices she might have made. Tai is also a character who is less than true to herself, and pays a price. Was what she went through worth it? Does Cher learn and grow over the course of the story? Families might also want to look at Austen's novel and see how the adaptation reflects the original.
Common Sense Media Review
CLUELESS is a classic, a wonderfully funny and disarmingly
sweet story of a rich, beautiful high school girl Cher,
perfectly played by
Alicia
Silverstone, who just can't keep herself out of other
people's business.
After one successful attempt at matchmaking, Cher decides to make over and set up the new girl in school (a nearly unrecognizable and very funny Brittany Murphy), with disastrous results. Meanwhile, her own love life is rather confused, and it isn't until she starts being honest with herself that she sees what she really wants.
The story is loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma, and it does an excellent job of transferring the story to a contemporary context. It doesn't feel dated more than 10 years after its release -- the direction is bright and fresh, and the performances are uniformly excellent. Silverstone is particularly good, managing to be charming, ditzy, and annoying all at once, and it's clear why this movie made her a star.
This film isn't be appropriate for young children -- it does contain drinking, drug use, and implied sex -- but teens will love it. And it might even get them to read some Jane Austen.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
