Clueless (PG-13, 1995)

Cher (Alicia Silverstone) just can't keep herself out of other people's business. After one successful attempt at matchmaking, Cher decides to make over and set up the new girl in school, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, her own love life is rather confused, and it isn't until she starts being honest with herself that she sees what she really wants.

CLUELESS is loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma, and it does an excellent job of transferring the story to a contemporary context. It doesn't feel dated more than 10 years after its release -- the direction is bright and fresh, and the performances are uniformly excellent. Silverstone is particularly good, managing to be charming, ditzy, and annoying all at once, and it's clear why this movie made her a star.

This film isn't be appropriate for young children -- it does contain drinking, drug use, and implied sex -- but teens will love it. And it might even get them to read some Jane Austen.