Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Such a frustrating disappointment

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I love Phoebe Cates she is so beautiful but Jennifer Jason Leigh is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay way hotter and I grew up on Phoebe Cates in this and Gremlins and Paradise and Private School and Drop Dead Fred and that's hard to say but it's true. JJL looks so good in FTaRH, like somebody's baby alright! OMG. I love Jennifer & Phoebe!!This is the best movie ever. To all the newer generation kids watching this for the first time, even though older movies aren't as consistently stimulating as newer ones evolved to be, kinda lully, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is all about sex and it is so, so sexually stimulating that I don't even remember what I was talking about...........something to do with like, you learning to love it as you grow older like I learned to love megahot Jennifer over supersweet Phoebe, or something. Phoebe AND Jennifer's pool scene is the hottest nude scene in movies forever thanks to Phoebe AND Jennifer...........but Phoebe's part is particularly exquisite ODL, ODL! I love Phoebe Cates & JJL.BEsT tEEnAge hIGh SHcoOL SeX CoMEDy EVER!!

Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) has a typical teen life in California. At fifteen, she works in a pizza parlor after school and longs to have her first true romantic encounter. That's right, she's never gone "all the way". Her older brother Brad (Judge Reinhold) also works hard at his job at Burger World and has been dating a fellow student for two years. Meanwhile, surfer-student Jeff Spicolli (Sean Penn) would far rather be smoking weed or riding the waves but his parents say he must attend school his senior year. What a shock when he gets put in a history class run by the no-nonsense Mr. Hand (Ray Walston). From his first late arrival, Spicolli rubs Mr. Hand the wrong way. A year long battle ensues. Unhappily, Stacy DOES become sexually active with the wrong guys. The first, a twenty-something, doesn't have any guilt about being with a gal so young and the second partner is also an out-for- himself dirtbag. Will she ever find someone who loves her? This classic coming of age film has its funny moments. Penn is a total laugh generator and many of the teens have such awkward moments they are comedic. Forest Whitaker likewise delivers many smiles for his annihilation of the opposing football team after his car is wrecked by others. But, there are also many serious scenes and situations which make the movie a good bet for teens who need reassurance that they are not alone with problems. Leigh is terrific and all of the other young actors are, too. The sets, costumes, script, and lively direction enhance the flick as does the wonderful soundtrack. If you somehow missed this movie, as I did, make a fast track to get your hands on it soon.

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.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High now boasts three Oscar winners with Sean Penn, Forest Whitaker and Nicolas Cage in a blink and you will miss him role.The sweetest and brightest performance is by Jennifer Jason Leigh who plays Stacy who works in the fast food restaurants in a LA shopping mall talking with friend and co-worker Linda (Phoebe Cates) about sex and men.Mark (Brian Backer) fancies Stacy but when he goes out with her gets nervous. His friend a ticket tout Mike (Robert Romanus) who gives Mark lots of advice on women does get an opportunity to have sex with Stacy and gets her pregnant. It results in Stacy having an abortion.Stacy's brother Brad (Judge Reinhold) is having problems with his own girlfriend and also fantasises about Linda that results in an embarrassing situation in the bathroom. Brad also works in fast food but becomes increasingly irritated by the uniforms he has to wear.However the film is not about high school kids hanging about in malls or working fast food. It is about Ridgemont High, where wall to wall MOR music is played and all the girls give that 'come on' smile to the boys. In fact the entire film is women giving that kind of smile to men which is rather unrealistic. With the tits and ass on show in this film it comes as a surprise that the film was actually directed by a woman.The plot is flimsy, Stacy wants to lose her virginity but realises that she just needs a good friend. Brad goes through a succession of fast food jobs because in this recession hit Reagan's early 1980s USA where jobs are easy to come by. Mark and Mike try to resolve their differences over Stacy.The most interesting character is surfer dude and prototype Bill & Ted slacker Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) who has been permanently stoned for years and orders pizza while he is class. His relationship with Mr Hand brings some spark to the movie.The film bounces along because of the soundtrack, seeing some famous actors in early roles even though a few of them look too old to be still at high school. It is a fantasy version of a high school, I doubt even Hollywood High is like this.