Fast Times at Ridgemont High

1982 "At Ridgemont High, only the rules get busted!"
7.1| 1h30m| R| en| More Info
Released: 13 August 1982 Released
Producted By: Universal Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: https://www.fasttimes40anniversary.com/
Synopsis

Based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times follows a group of high school students growing up in Southern California. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. At the center of the film is Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer who faces-off with the resolute Mr. Hand—a man convinced that everyone is on dope.

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ericrnolan "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) is a pop-culture scared cow that needs to be skewered. I'd rate it a 2 out of 10 for being a surprisingly inept and poorly scripted 1980's "classic."I just don't understand the fervent popular reverence for this movie among people in my age bracket. It was a minor legend when I was growing up. I was a fourth grader in 1982, and gradeschool boys could be divided into two groups: 1) those who had seen the "Phoebe Cates pool scene" and 2) those who had not, but wished they had. When I mentioned on social media a couple of months ago this year that I'd never actually gotten around to seeing this movie, my friends were roundly astonished.Why do they think this film is indispensable viewing? Maybe there's something I'm missing. I'm tempted to group "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" together with other beloved 80's films that just don't resonate with me -- like the understandably campy "Tron" (1982) or the unexpectedly sleep-inducing "The Big Chill" (1983). (I couldn't even finish the latter.) But I can't compare, because I know those movies are objectively good in a lot of ways, even if they weren't to my taste.Nor am I squeamish about raunchy sex comedies. (C'mon.) I pretty fondly remember "Porky's" (1981), "Porky's II: The Next Day" (1983), and "Revenge of the Nerds" (1984). I mentioned "Porky's" to the friend with whom I watched "Fast Times" -- I told her that it wasn't highbrow entertainment, but I still remember it being crudely, blasphemously funny.This movie was just a thinly scripted small collection of vignettes, with no overall plot outside of teenagers having sexual encounters that are ... awkward and bluntly sad, for the most part. (Sean Penn's character does drugs.) The dialogue is terrible. None of the characters are likable -- even the story's nerdy, well-meaning protagonist is grating.I didn't really laugh once at anything the director intended -- I only laughed at the haircuts and the clothes. I just can't believe that the screenwriter here was Cameron Crowe, who also wrote what is possibly my favorite movie of all time -- the widely but unfairly maligned "Vanilla Sky" (2001). (Crowe apparently adapted the screenplay from a novel he wrote.)There is some enjoyment to be had in watching Penn's stoner character. It was fun seeing a well known serious actor in an early comedic role. Penn is a decent character actor, and it looks like he was having fun. I do get why kids in the 80's found him funny.It's also fun seeing the handful of other young actors who would go on to great careers (Judge Reinhold is always funny) but, again, this is something that the filmmakers can't take credit for.Hey, if you want a slice-of-life dramatic comedy about teenagers in the 1980's, then go rent "The Breakfast Club" (1985). It wasn't perfect, but it was damn good movie that tackled many of the same issues as this movie, but with intelligence and effective humor. Or, try the oddball "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986). Both movies portray teenagers in the 80's who are smart, likable and emphathetic, in varying degrees. I myself went to high school in the 1980's, and I assure you they were around.
leplatypus Just by the 1st scene, I knew I will be thrilled by this movie: the 80s, a mall (for me a place of constant happiness, even without buying), teens and their n° 1 care: relationships! Frankly, compared to my french experience, those high scholars had everything to be happy, enjoy every moment of this time and maybe later feel deeply nostalgic about it… Maybe the movie is not accurate for every one, but i see that those teens had their personal room in family houses > in France, we lived all together in old, decaying buildings! Their study seems light (MCQ) > in France, we are in high school for 40 hours by week, almost like a job, with a lot of studies, papers, exercises to learn after the bell! Students come to schools in car, even if they are wreck > In France, we take fully loaded public transports! So at the end, in America, people have space and intimacy while in France it's hard to have such control… In addition, the movies happens in the 80s so that means that there were exciting music (ever heard about melodies?), cool clothes (there is something else than G-string for girls and sportswear for boys)… Finally, the cast is awesome because it's a class of future Hollywood big names and with what they do here, you can understand: Jenny is particularly moving in her discovery path, Penn is unrecognizable in the dunce, the Rat embodies that at the end good heart wins over good look, etc… So instead of being the usual crazy comedy involving teens, this one is really focused about realistic slices of life and that's why it's so interesting and gripping. It's a sort of American Graffiti, 20 years later!
framptonhollis Dealing with teen sexuality in a scandalously frank fashion, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" has become something of a cult classic legend, a film that is considered to be (depending on who you ask) raunchy, funny, disgusting, obscene, brilliant, entertaining, graphic, etc. From my point of view, the hype surrounding the film's sexual elements overshadows what a sensitive and genuine little movie it really is. This is not some stupid teen sex comedy despite what Roger Ebert's 1 star review may have you believe (seriously Roger?!? and don't get me wrong, I love and admire Mr. Ebert's work!); this is not an exploitation flick, this is not a pornographic movie, this is a poignant comedy-drama about the most confusing and complex years of life, the years of teen-hood. "Fast Times" refuses to ignore strongly mature and dark themes despite its target audience. It is a realistic film (despite some characters and scenes being obviously over the top), and it has genuine heart. There are moments and jokes of a juvenile nature, there is a great deal of bawdiness, scenes that can easily be considered ribald or "dirty", and those scenes are essential for the movie to present to the viewer. The goal of the film is NOT to exploit teenage sexuality, but to observe and comment on it, and, in the end, the movie's message is not about sex, but about love and life in general and this is all depicted in a fashion both humorous and heartfelt. Sean Penn's performance has lived on to become something of a legend, and it continues to be laugh out loud funny to this very day. Every time Penn is on screen, all eyes are on him. Everything from his tone of voice to his facial expression to his body movements is done to a level of pure hilarity; he adds a comedic level to the film unmatched by any other cast members. And the rest of the cast is also splendid! Jennifer Jason Leigh is charming and utterly believable as the film's center heroine, Judge Reinhold is funny and charismatic as her somewhat rebellious older brother, Robert Romanus is cool as hell as the close friend and mentor of the socially awkward Mark Ratner, played with all the nervousness and quirks necessary by Brian Backer, and Vincent Schiavelli is wonderful in one of his many supporting roles as one of Ridgemont High's most interesting teachers. Many other memorable roles and performances are sprinkled all throughout the film that would take forever to mention, so I just suggest anyone reading this just go watch (or re-watch) this beautiful comedy to embrace the full, essential experience.The script is possibly among the finest in film history, as Cameron Crowe further proves that he is one of the finest men working in movies today as he adapts his own book (based on his own experiences) in a manner that only the creator of a film like "Say Anything..." could. And Amy Heckerling transfers his script to the screen in a manner that makes me wish she made more movies (not only of this quality, but just in general, because this and "Clueless" are two of the most intelligent, entertaining, and funny teen movies ever made). All in all, this is a magical movie, the type of movie that will entertain, provoke, amuse, and inspire no matter what its prudent critics may have you believe about the highly taboo topic of (*gasp*) SEX (!) and even worse the way a TEEN (!) may experience and be concerned with such HIDEOUS (!) matters.
Uriah43 This movie revolves around several students at Ridgemont High School who all have their own individual issues they have to work out along the way. For example, "Brad Hamilton" (Judge Reinhold) works at All-American Burger and everybody considers him as a success--until her gets fired. "Mark 'Rat' Ratner" (Brian Backer) works at the theater in the mall and has a crush on a girl in his biology class named "Stacy Hamilton" (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Unfortunately, being shy and inexperienced, Rat turns to his best friend "Mike Damone" (Robert Romanus) who generously advises him but then proceeds to have sex with Stacy--and comes to regret it immediately afterwards. Also featured is a pothead named "Jeff Spicoli" (Sean Penn) who has a problem with his history teacher by the name of "Mr. Hand" (Ray Walston) Or to be more accurate, perhaps it's better to say that Mr. Hand has a problem with Jeff Spicoli. In any case, this was one of better "high school comedies" produced during the 80's and typifies this particular era in film quite well. Above average.