Review of Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) by Carly Y — 17 Nov 2010

While Sean Penn is undeniably hilarious, Fast Times At Ridgemont High has a lot more to offer than just the performance many know it for.

Director Amy Heckerling (who later brought us Clueless) and debut screenwriter Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) have crafted a simultaneously realistic and caricature portrayal of high school life. The characters are great and the laughs consistent, making this movie one hell of a fun ride.

Though I didn't much care for the handling of the more serious issues on show, for example the abortion subplot which was dealt with in an incredibly blasé manner, many of the lighter situations ring very true. It becomes easy to see how Fast Times... has earned its cult status when you consider how many of us have suffered in endless customer service roles like Brad, or had a crush of a friend's older sibling like Linda, and that's not even mentioning the cringe worthy circumstances in which Stacy loses her virginity! Although my own high school years came some twenty years after this movie was made, I found it very easy to relate to the characters and the seemingly timeless situations they found themselves in. Therefore I cannot agree with those who dismiss this great high school comedy as being dated; it's a good today as it ever was.

Another reason this film succeeds is its cast. While some have faded into obscurity over the past thirty years, the movie actually features three future Best Actor Oscar winners. It's great to see Forest Whitaker and (blink and you miss him!) Nicholas Cage in early roles, while of course Sean Penn is a revelation and provides so many of the movie's biggest laugh-0ut-loud moments. His portrayal of surfer Spicoli remains one of the most beloved performances of his career.

If you grew up in the eighties then Fast Times At Ridgemont High will no doubt provide a brilliantly entertaining reminder of your high school years, and even if you didn't, this movie hasn't lost any of its punch over the years. It remains an eighties classic.