Saturday At The Movies – Alicia Silverstone’s Vamps

When it comes to films from the 90’s, I think many would agree that Clueless is a classic. Directed by Amy Heckerling, it gave the undeniably sexy Alicia Silverstone the chance to strut her stuff, both physically and from an acting perspective. The movie was very much of the moment, full of great performances and lots of laughs.

So imagine if Heckerling and Silverstone decided to team up again in the new millennium – what would the result be?

It would be Vamps.

Not quite what you were expecting from the duo, I’m guessing. I know it wasn’t for me. The idea of Alicia Silverstone playing a vampire in a comedy would never have been my first thought for fun, but happily, Vamps wound up being an enjoyable watch for the Queen and I. In her role as Goodie, Silverstone is genuinely funny as she continues to negotiate her way through the land of the living and undead, dealing with boys, men, lost love and the 21st century. She carries the film and it’s hard to not to think that we’re seeing a take on what Cher would be like now. If she was, you know, a vampire.

Silverstone and Kysten Ritter as BFF Stacy clearly have a fun time together on screen, but really, the entire cast seems to be having a ball, including another Clueless actor, Wallace Shawn, as a vampire hunter with a very familiar last name, and scenery chewing Sigourney Weaver as Goodie and Stacy’s maker, Ciccerus. Weaver in particular has been taking a lot of under the radar roles (see our review of Red Lights) and has been having a lot of fun with them.

According to Wikipedia, Vamps had a $20 million budget, which must have gone to the cast because the sfx are not good at all. However, you don’t watch this one for that, you’re watching for the script and to see what sort of magic Amy Heckerling and Alicia Silverstone can come up with yet again. Happily, they manage to deliver the pseudo-sequel to a classic many have been waiting for. While Vamps may not be Clueless, it’s a genuinely fun film and almost makes up for Silverstone’s contribution to Batman and Robin.

Almost.