Justin's Rating: About as fun as wedgies in gym class
Justin's Review: In every generation (since the 60s, at least), teens are defined by certain, special movies. These movies often mean a great deal to that generation -- they UNDERSTAND, man, what we're going through -- and are simultanteously incomprehensible to everyone else. Depending on who you talk to in Generation X, our defining "teen" movie would most likely be either The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Fast Times At Ridgemont High. (For the record, my defining teen film is Purple Rain)

Fast Times is an uneven balance of comedy and early 80s teenage angst. Instead of having any progressing plot, so to speak, the film splits into several storylines, following certain teens at California's Ridgemont High during a year of their lives. There's Brad (Judge Reinhold) who is seeking a direction in his career. His sister, Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), has difficulties in her love life, ends up pregnant and gets an abortion. Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), is the film's only totally comic character, as he plays a vapid surfer to the hilt.

I suppose I'm not a huge fan of Fast Times because it strikes a little too close to home. I want to enjoy a movie, not rehash high school years of hell and torture. As I said previously, this movie is very uneven, and the drama and comedy just don't balance out as well as they should. I feel bad for laughing at a character who gets shafted in the next scene. But there are moments of *fun*, at least, and when the film lets itself go, I enjoyed the ride.

For a teen movie, it contains a harsher light than most 80s teen flicks. For one thing, the R rating is certainly deserved. Jennifer Jason Leigh displays full frontal (and backal, I think) nudity (repeated in Single White Female). And of course there is the famous Phoebe Cates pool scene (if you don't know, just wait until you're older to ask). The characters bark out obscenities and there is some abrupt violence.

At the end of the movie, they try to wrap up each character's story with National Lampoon-type subtitles. This struck me as heavy-handed and unnecessary, as there was virtually no plot to begin with. I didn't really care what happened to the characters, and I think we would be much better off with that uncertainty.

Recommended for:
Die-hard surfers
Depression food

The Movie Store!
Fast Times At Ridgemont Hight: Movie [VHS]
Fast Times At Ridgemont Hight: Soundtrack [CD]
Fast Times At Ridgemont Hight: A True Story: Book

Intermission!
This movie marks film debuts of Forest Whitaker, Eric Stoltz, Anthony Edwards, and Nicolas Cage (billed under his real name, Nicholas Coppola). In 1986, Fast Times At Ridgemont High was made into a TV series called (appropriately) "Fast Times." Produced by the movie's director, it starred Dean Cameron as Jeff Spicoli, and didn't last past the first season.

Groovy Quotes:

Mike: First of all Rat, you never let on how much you like a girl. "Oh, Debbie. Hi." Two, you always call the shots. "Kiss me. You won't regret it." Now three, act like wherever you are, that's the place to be. "Isn't this great?" Four, when ordering food, you find out what she wants, then order for the both of you. It's a classy move. "Now, the lady will have the linguini and white clam sauce, and a Coke with no ice." And five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.

[Spicoli has had a pizza delivered to class.]
Mr. Hand: Am I hallucinating here? Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?
Spicoli: Learning about Cuba, and having some food.

Stacy: When a guy has an orgasm, how much comes out?
Linda: A quart or so.

DVD Review
Fast Times gets a flashy sendoff, with animated menus and bright colors. Cameron Crowe (the writer) and Amy Heckerling (the director) do a fairly interesting and informative commentary, there's a theatrical trailer and lengthy documentary looking back at Fast Times, and a look at all the different locations used for the movie (more films should do this).

If you liked this movie, try these:
The Breakfast Club
Can't Hardly Wait
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Soundtrack Review: Good early 80s compilation, with songs from Sammy Hagar, the Go-Gos, Jimmy Buffett, Donna Summer, Oingo Boingo, Tom Petty, and The Eagles.