How do words even begin to do justice to this subject?
I have had trouble writing this post because I- and this is not a joke- keep watching the movie instead of writing the post. (At press time, we’re up to three times since Saturday. It’s Tuesday, and the fourth time is happening in the background. We’ll see how this goes.)
If you want something in the background, the soundtrack is available for streaming on Spotify- it’s a pretty good reading companion!
Obviously, the book is an homage to the greatest movie of all time. It’s incredible that the movie has had such lasting power, both within popular culture as well as within my own experience. I remember watching it as a young girl with my mother and being totally captivated by one Cher Horowitz- hardly the first strong willed, ever-so-slightly spoiled Jewish girl in media, but for sure the most compelling. She was my spirit animal before I’d ever heard that term. And she got to date Paul Rudd, which has always been a win. I’ve watched it many, many, many times since then and my love for it hasn’t changed- only my understanding of the references.
Perhaps the most amazing part about this movie is how timeless it can be while other movies so reliant on trends of the time fail to connect to later generations. The book gives a little insight into that- Amy Heckerling brought in influences from earlier decades and was eerily predictive of the future, especially in our technology obsession. (Still waiting on the computer program to pick my clothes in the morning.) It’s amazing how it can nostalgic and relevant at the same time. The cell phones may be ancient and the musical references may no longer be up to date, but it all feels so real even 20 years later. A real classic!
Above all, it was so lovely to read about how much fun the cast and crew had on set. There didn’t seem to be any big fights or issues- everyone seemed to genuinely love each other. It’s nice when the image isn’t an illusion, when these people who I’ve watched hundreds of times (no exaggeration) hang out as friends can actually be friends in real life.
Also, the fact that not a single person in the movie has aged can only be a further testament to the lasting magic of the movie. It’s truly insane: Alicia Silverstone, Donald Faison, Stacey Dash, Paul Rudd, even Breckin Meyer- none of them look a day older 20 years later.
And now: I just wait for the oral history of My So-Called Life.
Suggested reading: Suck and Blow: The Oral History of the Clueless Party Scene– Jen Chaney, Vanity Fair. (This is the article that started the entire endeavor.)
You’ll like this if: you’re totally buggin’ over the movie.
Happy reading!
carlyreads 