Clueless, the Imperial Theatre's Galentine's Day screening (Credit: Imperial Theatre)
Valentine’s Day? Ugh, as if! Galentine’s Day is the coolest holiday around.
As part of its Retro Film series, and in honor of the holiday celebrating female friendship, the Imperial Theatre is screening 1995 cult classic Clueless. Considered to be one of the best teen films of all time, the film’s sharp quippy dialogue, still quoted endlessly twenty-five years later, firmly cemented its pop culture legacy.
“What better way to celebrate you and your gal-pals than a made-up holiday on February 13th?,” shares Imperial Theatre Executive Assistant Director, Bethany Stout. Parks & Rec’s Leslie Knope would be proud.
Alicia Silverstone plays Cher Horowiz, a popular, attractive and wealthy Beverly Hills high school student whose well-intentioned if, well, clueless, attempts to boost the popularity of her new friend Tai, (Brittany Murphy) takes an unexpected turn.
Clueless was loosely based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma. Director Amy Heckerling, who was no stranger to coming-of-age comedies having directed Fast Times at Ridgemont High, updated the for the then-modern day of nineties Beverly Hills.
While the nineties lingo can sound very foreign today, Heckerling took care to investigate and study how teenagers talked and interacted with each other in high school. Her hard work paid off; the film was the surprise sleeper hit of the year and grossed $56.6 million ($95 million USD in 2020) on a $12 million budget.
Cher might agree – Clueless has never gone out of style and, unlike her opinions regarding Monet paintings, her story remains a cinematic winner.
If you go: Clueless is screening at the Imperial Theatre February 13. Tickets are $10 with showtime at 7:00 pm.
