There are certain comedies that seemingly come out of nowhere and define a generation of viewers. In the mid-1990s, Clueless was one such movie. It should not come as a complete surprise, though, since director Amy Heckerling accomplished a similar feat in the 1980s with Fast Times At Ridgemont High. The movie seemed innocent enough; it was a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, it had Heckerling at the helm, and it starred a girl best known for being featured in Aerosmith music videos. A positive return on investment was surely anticipated, but the immense success the movie experienced at the box office was truly a marvel. Not only that, the film had a monumental cultural impact that introduced all manner of slang into the zeitgeist, welcomed Paul Rudd to stardom, and turned the character of Cher Horowitz into a cultural icon. Thirty years later, the film continues to have a huge following and is widely considered one of the greatest teen comedies of all time.

For the uninitiated, Clueless follows the exploits of Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), an attractive, popular, and wealthy student in Beverly Hills. Although she has all of the makings of a potential villain, Cher is, in actuality, a sweet girl with only the occasional naïve, elitist, or thoughtless tendencies. Cher is best friends with Dionne (Stacey Dash), an equally beautiful and rich girl who is in a long-term relationship with Murray (Donald Faison). Cher is not always the brightest student in class, but she has way more depth inside of her than anyone gives her credit. Cher has a language all of her own, and you need to get on the same page if you are going to appreciate her unique knowledge. Cher is much more in her element when she is helping people, either in their relationships or with their appearance. The latter happens to be the case when the “tragically un-hip” new girl Tai (Brittany Murphy) arrives at school, whom Cher and Dionne take under their wing. By pouring all of their wisdom into Tai, she emerges from her makeover with a newfound confidence and sense of style. But it is through Tai’s experiences that Cher begins to see the world a bit differently.

Tai is not the only one who has Cher buggin’ about her lifestyle. Her socially conscious ex-stepbrother, Josh (Paul Rudd), has come home during a break in college, which has resulted in continuous playful sparring. As anyone who has watched a rom-com before knows, it is those that drive you crazy that end up being the one you are meant to be with. One of the most remarkable things about Cher’s journey throughout the film is that it is not solely focused on getting into a relationship. Cher mostly finds nothing interesting about high school boys. When she does happen to take an interest in one, he is wrong for her for a variety of reasons. Cher is an independently minded character who is taking in everything around her and using it to decide to live a more purposeful life. This less conceited version of Cher was always inside of her; she just needed the right keys to let her take over. The romance in the film is very sweet, but Heckerling smartly uses this as a secondary focus for the character.

Clueless has sustained its popularity throughout the years due to smartly written characters and its endless supply of quotable moments. Sure, there are many aspects and slang that are incredibly dated, but that is part of the film’s charm. The words lose their relevance, but the feeling the film evokes is evergreen. The entire cast is perfectly suited for each of their roles. Alicia Silverstone should be given major kudos for bringing such nuance to a character that could have easily been too unlikable. Likewise, Paul Rudd shows early evidence of the endless charm that he has maintained until this very day. Amy Heckerling has an incredible sense of how to craft a film that will remain noteworthy long after its initial debut. Clueless remains incredibly funny and heartfelt more than two decades after its premiere.

Video Quality

Clueless debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray for its 30th anniversary with a dazzling 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that honors the original source while giving it the fresh new life that fans have been craving for the longest time. The original Blu-Ray disc from 2012 has been re-released time and time again, so it is about time the film has been upgraded. The implementation of Dolby Vision elevates the vibrant hues to spectacular heights. Many colorful environments deliver more nuance than ever before. From bright cars to iconic articles of clothing, all of the complex shades radiate off the screen. The picture maintains a sterling amount of detail in shadowy spaces. Black levels exert a much greater depth and control than the muted Blu-Ray release. Highlights are likewise more in control without veering into blooming.

This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray retains most of the natural film grain which allows much more texture and detail within the transfer. You can clearly see more distinct aspects of the production design or within the articles of clothing on display. The clarity of the transfer brings forth a pleasing amount of facial detail, and thanks to this, the performers appear more textured and natural than ever before. This transfer does have some scenes that are either naturally soft or have been hit with a bit of DNR which takes away from the organic appearance. This is far from the most unsightly application we have seen from the company, and most will probably be able to overlook it altogether. Any potential print damage has been eliminated for a clean and consistent viewing experience. This transfer is a magnificent improvement for fans who have been waiting for this release.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that perfectly represents the film. Clueless is not the most sonically dynamic movie, but there are some lively moments such a Dionne’s accidental freeway excursion or sequences at the dance. The track makes good use of the surround speakers in these and other instances. Dialogue remains clear and upfront without ever being clipped by any of the pop songs that are constantly cropping up. As for the quality of the music itself, let’s just say some things from the 90s are better left forgotten. There are some interesting environmental sounds within the school that engage various speakers. This one was never going to be a house-shaker, but it does a great job of capturing the essence of the film. Optional English SDH, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and an array of other subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Clue or False Trivia Game: A pop-up trivia game that runs throughout the film, which features questions ranging from easy to very obscure. It should be noted that if you choose to watch the film this way, you cannot pause/rewind/etc. Yours truly didn’t do too hot with the trivia. Apparently I’m a “Barney” who is clueless about Clueless.
The Class of ’95: A nearly nineteen-minute featurette that deep dives on the incredible casting of all of these characters. This is worth it just to see some of these actors light up talking about their characters and experiences with the movie.
Creative Writing: A ten-minute look at developing this film with Jane Austen as a jumping off point, a discussion of how the film was originally developed as a TV show, the research that went into the project, studio reactions to the script and more. Those who love to dive into the origins of a picture will love this.
Fashion 101: An eleven-minute dive into all things fashion in this film. This is one of the most important aspects of the film, and this shows how much consideration was put into every aesthetic choice.
Language Arts: An eight-minute look at all of the unique terms used within the film and how Amy decided what to use in the film. Some of the terms are cringeworthy in how uncool they are today, but it is so dated that it becomes hilarious.
Suck ‘N Blow – A Tutorial: A three-minute featurette that shows how to properly play the game featured in the movie, as well as how the film had to cheat to create the desired outcome.
Driver’s Ed: A four-minute behind-the-scenes look at shooting the freeway-driving scene. The cast was never in any real danger, but most of their fear was real.
We’re History: A nine-minute retrospective on the movie featuring the cast and crew sharing their personal experiences and funny moments from the film. Everyone seems proud of the film, and everyone maintains the highest appreciation for director Amy Heckerling.
Trailers: The teaser and full-length trailers are both provided here. Both of them do a masterful job of establishing the tone of the film without giving away every single joke.

Final Thoughts

Clueless can feel dated in places, but that does not take away the overwhelming joy the movie provides to all those who grew up with it occupying a special place in their hearts. Director Amy Heckerling is a master of her craft, and she once again created a seminal high school comedy. Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has given us a beautiful new 4K UHD Blu-Ray with an excellent A/V presentation and fun extras. Fans of the film should not hesitate to pick this one up if they do not already own it. Recommended

Clueless is currently available to purchase on Standard or SteelBook 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.