This is a 22-minute short film known as "Clarissa" or "Clarissa, Now" and it follows up on "Clarissa Explains It All" a television series that ended one year earlier. This one here was made in 1995, so it has its 20th anniversary now. Initially, it was intended as a pilot episode for a new series starring Melissa Joan Hart, but it did not get picked up. This is quite a shame as I thought this was a funny little watch. Joan Hart is the epitomes of harmless, cute and quirky and everything that try-hard Zooey Deschanel can only dream of being these days. MJH really works wonders here with the character, she feels truly authentic and it's obvious she's having fun with reprising her role. Robert Klein proves his comedic talent in here as well. I recommend the watch. Almost a must-see for fans of "Clarissa Explains It All" and in "Clarissa" MHJ talks to the audience again breaking the 4th wall, for example in the very last shot. Good watch. Thumbs up.
2 Reviews
I'm not exactly the target audience for this one...but who was?
planktonrules27 June 2020
Back in the early 1990s, "Clarissa Explains It All" was a popular show for young people. It was so popular that I am not surprised that the networks decided to try a reboot a few years later...with an older and more mature Clarissa. The problem is that the show just wasn't very good and it never went beyond the pilot stage.
The show finds Clarissa in New York City. She's about to begin an internship and she's thrilled with life and the big city. However, reality is soon coming to wake her because it turns out she's supposed to intern for a boss (Robert Klein) who is just mean and nasty.
So why did the pilot fail? Well, Klein's character was simply too mean....so much so that it seemed out of place for a comedy. The show wasn't terrible...but needed a retooling before anyone would consider approving the series..which never happened. Not terrible...but misguided.
The show finds Clarissa in New York City. She's about to begin an internship and she's thrilled with life and the big city. However, reality is soon coming to wake her because it turns out she's supposed to intern for a boss (Robert Klein) who is just mean and nasty.
So why did the pilot fail? Well, Klein's character was simply too mean....so much so that it seemed out of place for a comedy. The show wasn't terrible...but needed a retooling before anyone would consider approving the series..which never happened. Not terrible...but misguided.
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