This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Thirty years ago (yes, 30!) on July 19th, 1995, movie history was made with the release of teen rom-com Clueless. Starring some of my favorite actors—such as Alicia Silverstone, the late Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd—the clever, quotable contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s continues to ensnare fans to this day.
Playing the unforgettable, self-appointed Beverly Hills princess Cher Horowitz, Silverstone captured the hearts of so many ’90s tweens and teens with her misguided—but well-intentioned—life lessons. For example: What to do if you’e being mugged, and you’re wearing a very expensive outfit? Get on the ground, of course, but first appeal to the mugger’s sense of fashion. Or should you do if your hot guy friend is vibing with your newest bestie? Time to play matchmaker!
It’s hard to fathom that such an iconic mid-’90s movie was inspired by Emma, Jane Austen’s 1819 classic. Young English socialite Emma may not have had to deal with the same pressures as Beverly Hills it-girl Cher, like learning to drive in platforms, teachers lowballing her grades, or “ensemble-y challenged" mean girls. Yet the two are alike in more ways than one. Both Emma and Cher hail from a prestigious, privileged background, struggle with the oh-so awkward moments of meddling and matchmaking gone wrong, find their attempted social elevations going awry, and, along the way, demonstrate a complete misjudgment of other characters. Though they're separated by nearly 100 years, oddly enough both young women clearly prove that, while the world may change, the embarrassments and mishaps of coming-of-age remain very similar.
In celebration of three decades of Clueless, I'm honoring this perennial favorite film with a list of unforgettable leading ladies who demonstrate that, even in the most awkward situations, growth and a happy ending are never too far behind.
Listening recommendations for Clueless fans
