Cher's occasional moments of intelligence
The thing that separates Clueless from a league of other teen films and rom-com girl power flicks today is that it doesn't lampoon or poke fun at the heroine's intelligence. Cher isn't just a one-note ditz, she has occasional moments of very thoughtful and witty clarity, she seems to be quite a smart girl ("I thought they declared peace in the Middle East", among other things, surprised me). There are layers to her that the film touches upon that suggest she has the potential to be extraordinarily gifted. I really applaud Amy Heckerling for this. I think this is what elevates Clueless above the usual teen fare. It knows that its characters have redeeming qualities and it knows that their drive for ambition and reward extends far beyond the local shopping mall.
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