sleepy without a clue

In both Clueless and Sleepless in Seattle the director uses the actors personas in order to fulfill the roles that they play. Meg Ryan is typically referred to as “America’s sweetheart”, her role in Sleepless in Seattle portrays her as just that. Meg Ryan plays Annie, a compassionate, hopeless romantic searching for something that she can’t quite name. Annie can be brought to tears by a radio show about a little boy and his widowed father miles away, she spends her days listless at work thinking about a man that could fulfill her uber-romantic fantasies.

In Clueless Alicia Silverstone portrays the ultimate teenage girly girl who uses her good looks and charm in order to get what she wants. However Alicia (Cher) doesn’t want to considered just another vapid queen bee. Cher then takes it upon herself to do makeovers and spark romance amongst her peers in order to give her life “meaning”. In the 1990’s Alicia Silverstone was just that, just another pretty Hollywood face gracing music videos and movies. Alicia Silverstone then tried to take deeper more indy type roles in order to gain recognition as a more versatile actress. One could look at both of these actors and movies and say that indeed life imitates life. Others could say that it’s great casting that the actors were able to fit their roles so adequately. The directors of both Clueless and Sleepless in Seattle used the personas of Alicia Silverstone and Meg Ryan in order to create a stronger more relatable character.

I remember watching Clueless at least 8 times when I was younger. Watching it over break I just couldn’t get over how silly it must of seemed to my parents that I loved Cher so much and wanted to have that kind of life. Girls are attracted to the outfits, the nonchalance, the attention she receives without even asking for it. Who didn’t want tell a skater freak that the burnouts “sat on the grassy knoll” or that dating high school boys was sooo not worth it. Cher was the Barbie doll of the 90’s and every girl I knew wanted a part of her lifestyle. As for Sleepless in Seattle every time I watch that movie I too feel as if true love has now boundaries and that if it is meant to be it will happen. Really it’s creepy, sending letters to a stranger because you felt some cosmic connection? However Meg Ryan makes it all seem alright in fact, she makes it seem possible for all of us. Clueless and Sleepless in Seattle allow girls to be both self-indulgent and fantastical without a care in the world.