Review of American Graffiti (1973) by Steven S — 09 Jan 2010

Ah, the feeling of freedom from school. The feeling you get when you feel like you have just been released from all this stress that has been building ever since you started. You are now free to do whatever you want with your life.

But then what? What is it we are supposed to do with our free life? Are we supposed to go somewhere different? Are we supposed to change who it is we are? That decision remains by your view of what you want in your life.

This type of situation is all told by George Lucas in his high school com-dram, American Graffiti. The year is 1962. It's the last night of four teenagers to remain in their town and move on with their lives as college freshman.

They are capable of becoming great leaders, or becoming just a regular person you see on the street. But are they all ready for that? Are they sure they want to move on ahead with themselves? They get their answer after driving around town with people they knew, just trying to remember all the precious times they have spent together.

First, there is Curt. Curt has recieved a scholarship to a very advanced school. This could be a great opportunity for Curt to see what opportunity could lie ahead of him of becoming something extrodinary, yet, he's still in question if he still wants to leave or not.

He isn't sure if he can handle the kind of responsibility with being around others that could be more advanced for him or just doesn't know what they know. He has all these things in the town he grew up in blocking him.

Especially a hot girl in a white car that catches his attention. He wishes to drive around the whole town just trying to find out why this girl likes him so much. It's one of those things that blocks him from moving on.

Then there is Steve. Steve is the typical high school boyfriend: thinking about himself, thinks he knows whats right in a relationship and whats not right in a relationship. He plans on moving ahead with his life as well.

The only thing that blocks him is his sweetheart, Laurie. He feels that if they do seperate from each other, it would be a good experience to see other people to know if they are truly in love. But what if he's wrong? Is he blinded by the fact that he already is in love with her and he just can realize it? Their story takes many turns as many arguments start to spring up from their take on Steve's leave.

Next in line, we got the badboy, John. John is the Fonzie of his group, the cool, slick, I-can-take-on-anyone kind of boy. He doesn't believe that he needs a college education to have a great life.

He feels if he remains cool, that everything else willl be cool...or will it? Has his coolness somehow blocked him from all these chances he's gotten to make something of himself? It all comes clear to him when he has to drive around in his hot, yellow fast car with a weak, nerdy girl who doesn't seem to get much positive attention from anyone else.

He feels a guilt after acting so tough infront of her, that he has noticed that maybe if he changes for one night, he can help start something different with himself. Finally, there is always the last one, AKA: the zero, the nerd who makes up stories to be something he's not, Terry "The Toad.

" Terry is a super geek, hanging out with the cool kids to make him feel cool. Terry has gotten the opportunity to drive Steve's car for the night. As he drives around the town, he gets harsh critisim from everyone from school, except for one.

This one is the babe, Debbie, who is the high school girl that wants a bad boy for a boyfriend. In order for Terry to keep her around, he must have a cool back-story in order for him to keep her by his side at all times.

It's hard to say when you go too far with stories like that though. During their night together, Terry seems to get in all kinds of shenanigans with that vehicle, almost having Debbie lose interestin him.

I think Terry got the message on being something your not after that. When the morning has come, each person comes to a decision if they are willing to go on or not. It's the choice everyone has to make, no matter what.

It's possibly the hardest decisioin anyone could ever make. I was suprised how George Lucas captured all that so perfectly. He captures the spirit of a young, confused high school graduate, trying to figure out what is best for themselves.

With great symbolism, and classic, rockin' tunes, American Graffiti is sure to capture the soul of every teenager, showing them an example of what happens after high school, and what life will bring a head of them.