Mini-post: Clueless (pt. 2)

As if!

Clueless (1995)

Director: Amy Heckerling

Had I seen this before: You know it

Did I recognize the “famous quote” in the ad: Yes

I have already wrestled with how much I love this flawed film here, feel free to revisit the write-up any time, I hope not sporadically.

The Regal Ad

The outfit: I think this is one of the most successful outfits in the ad—her flannel cleanly echoes the iconic yellow plaid suit that Cher is wearing when she delivers the line in question, and also looks like something a normal person would wear to the movies. A+

The line: Alicia Silverstone delivers this line with peak withering-teen-girl-disgust when an unwanted suitor sidles up next to her. I have no idea if kids these days are familiar with the line or its origin but at the time it was certainly one of the main linguistic achievements to escape the confines of the film and enter general teen conversation. A

The context: This woman, whose name may or may not be Fredo, has just been accused by Danny Trejo of stealing his Pepsi. She is disgusted by the very notion, and points to her airtight alibi, which is her own full and conveniently positioned Pepsi ad Pepsi. I feel obligated to point out that Clueless itself is a Coke movie, with both a joking reference to having Coke in the cafeteria—“this is America”—and prominently positioned cans of Diet Coke throughout the film. Therefore, I am deducting half a letter grade due to my own product placement cognitive dissonance. B+

Up next: "You sit on a throne of lies.”