SEX. CLOTHES. POPULARITY. WHATEVER.

16-year-old Beverly Hills student Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) starts playing matchmaker for two teachers at her school; she also ”adopts” a new girl (Brittany Murphy)… Amy Heckerling’s best film as director reconnects with her breakthrough, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). Her achievement this time was enlisting the help of Jane Austen in crafting a film that should feel relevant and fun for modern audiences; the story is pretty close to Austen’s ”Emma”. Silverstone, in an eyebrow-raising performance, finds the right tone as the spoiled, wealthy teenager. Attractive cast, sharp dialogue and a song score that cleverly matches the story.

1995-U.S. 97 min. Color. Produced by Robert Lawrence, Scott Rudin. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling. Cast: Alicia Silverstone (Cher Horowitz), Stacey Dash (Dionne Davenport), Brittany Murphy (Tai Frasier), Paul Rudd, Donald Faison, Breckin Meyer… Dan Hedaya, Wallace Shawn.

Trivia: Later a TV series, Clueless (1996-1999).

Last word: “It wasn’t written that way in the script, but that’s how she said it. Everybody started to run towards her to correct her and I had to kind of block them all, like ‘step away from the actress!’ I didn’t want her to act; I just wanted her feel that confidence.” (Heckerling on Silverstone’s mispronunciation of “Haitians”, Vice)

IMDb