Clueless is a 1995 teen comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling, starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd. Heckerling had originally conceived of Clueless as a television pilot for Fox.http://www.jasa.net.au/study/ahinterview.htm Fox's movie department then bought the pilot to be developed into a film.http://www.jasa.net.au/study/ahinterview.htm Heckerling used the plot of Jane Austen's novel Emma as a guide when structuring her screenplay.http://www.jasa.net.au/study/ahinterview.htm The film did later inspire a half-hour comedy series of the same name that aired from 1996 to 1999.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115137/

In December 2009, actress Brittany Murphy, for whom Clueless marked her breakout role, passed away at her Los Angeles home.http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/12/20/2009-12-20_actress_brittany_murphy_dies_at_32_of_heart_attack_report.html The death was later ruled a result of drug intoxication and pneumonia.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20341643,00.html

Cher Horowitz (Silverstone) is a beautiful, rich, and popular high school student. She lives in Beverly Hills with her father (Dan Hedaya), a highly paid litigator. Her mother passed away in a freak liposuction accident. Her ex-stepbrother Josh (Rudd), a college student, is a frequent visitor to their home.

When Josh hears that Cher and her best friend Dionne (Dash) have paired up two of their teachers in order to see improvements in their grades, he unwittingly challenges Cher to do a completely unselfish act. Cher takes this challenge and decides to transform the new student, Tai (Murphy), into a pretty and popular girl. She attempts to do this by changing Tai's look and wardrobe and pairing her with the popular Elton (Jeremy Sisto). Meanwhile, Cher, who had sworn off high school boys, begins a flirtation with new student Christian (Justin Walker). Unbeknownst to Cher, Christian is gay.

Tai learns that Elton does not share her affection and turns her attentions on Josh. Cher realizes she has a problem with this because she has feelings for her ex-stepbrother. Cher and Tai have a falling out, and Cher turns her altruism towards a relief effort for Pismo Beach, which has experienced a mudslide.

Tai and Cher reconcile and Tai becomes interested in a skateboarder named Travis (Breckin Meyer). Cher and Josh admit they have feelings for each other and kiss at the end of the movie.

• Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz
• Stacey Dash as Dionne
• Brittany Murphy as Tai
• Paul Rudd as Josh
• Donald Faison as Murray
• Alisa Donovan as Amber
• Breckin Meyer as Travis
• Jeremy Sisto as Elton
• Dan Hedaya as Mel Horowitz
• Wallace Shawn as Mr. Wendell Hall
• Twink Caplan as Miss Toby Geist

• The movie is aimed at teenagers, but like all good comedies, it will appeal to anyone who has a sense of humor and an ear for the ironic. -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times'http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19950719/REVIEWS/507190301/1023
• There are funny bits in Clueless ... but about all that distinguishes the characters is the fact that they're processed products of the past, teen-movie zombies with no discernible personality apart from their trendoid obsessions. -- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weeklyhttp://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,298076,00.html