By Asha Varma ‘20, Arts and Entertainment Writer

When you can’t find a good movie to watch on Netflix during a movie night or a slumber party, many people have no problem watching the movie Clueless, even if it may be for the tenth time.

Clueless, the classic 1990s rom-com, revolved around the life of Beverly Hills diva Cher. This film has remained a timeless favorite among teens where even today, many people are inspired by Cher’s iconic plaid yellow skirt when picking Halloween costumes. There was even an off-Broadway musical based on the movie that was set to start this November.

Fans’ devotion to the original characters and the original movie was tested when Paramount Pictures announced plans to remake the beloved movie after twenty-three years. Fans of the original movie criticized the possible remake, which seemed to target a new and younger generation because it would do an injustice to the original characters and story. Personally, I don’t think it is necessary to remake a movie solely to grab the attention of a new audience. In my opinion, remakes seem appropriate only in cases where the original movie has faded out of pop culture. In this case, however, Clueless has remained a popular fan favorite despite the test of time. A movie released in 1995, Clueless has carried its popularity throughout the early 2000s and even the 2010s. Who’s to say it won’t remain a popular teen rom-com in the future? From personal experience, I can say that Clueless is a movie that doesn’t get old, even after having watched it more than enough times.

There is, however, a contradictory argument to be presented; Clueless was based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma. Many people would argue that the success of the story is based on its relation to the zeitgeist. In that case, the popularity of Jane Austen’s novel was due to its appropriateness for the era in which it was written in. Thus, the novel Emma adjusted to the preferences of the 90’s audience when deciding which characters and what story the coming of age nineties film Clueless would look like.

It has yet to be announced whether the remake will feature a continuation of the original into the adult lives of characters like Cher (Alicia Silverstone), Tai (Brittany Murphy), and Josh (Paul Rudd), or if a new cast of characters will be introduced. Whether we see an adult Cher trading in her flip phone for an iPhone or a brand-new story, it will be impossible to remake such an iconic movie without ruining some of its original essences.