Review of Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) by Jens T — 11 Dec 2012

Fast Times At Ridgemont High is a wonderful coming-of-age dramady that follows ad least four different teenagers. Some of them are looking forward to get finished with their last year. Some are loosing their virginity. Some are desperately trying to get the girl they like. And some are just stoned all the time, like Jeff Spicoli, played wonderfully by the now to times Academy Award winner Sean Penn, in his breakthrough performance.

This was a movie that no one believed was going to be a hit. But it become loved by the audience. It was not one of those sad and ironic teenage films, like "Rebel without a Cause" and "American Graffiti". Fast Times At Ridgemont High was a comedy, that showed us the innocence and vulnerability that are a part of life. Like when Jennifer Jason Leigh's fifteen-year-old character, Stacy, is having sex with an older guy, and a bunch of other guys. Despite this, she's never labeled as a slut. And it's isn't the end of the world when she's having an abortion. Basically this is just the part of being a teenager. It's nothing to be ashamed of, just like masturbation, which her brother, Brad (Judge Reinhold) is doing while thinking about Stacy's friend Linda (Phoebe Cates). All this is a part of life, so we might as well laugh at it.

It's without a doubt a great teenage comedy, which gave birth to the popular teen movies of the eighties, movies like "Breakfast Club" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Movies that give us the point of view the point of view they deserves. I really liked this film. And who doesn't love Jeff Spicoli, he's one of those character that you wished had more screen time. He should have gotten a movie all by his own, or maybe that would have been to much. Great things comes in small packages. "Hey Bud, Lets party. Thumbs up.