Review of Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) by Adam F — 22 Aug 2014

"Fast Times at Ridgement High" might not have the same amount of insight or the great laughs that some of those must-see "coming of age" films but it has plenty of good moments that make it a minor classic. The film follows the lives of several students over the course of an academic year. There's Brad Hamilton (Judge Reinhold) who has to deal with the only type of jobs most high school students get: flipping burgers. You see him deal with obnoxious customers, humiliating restaurant policies, all while he is trying to figure out how to break up with his girlfriend so he can have some freedom during his last year of school. Next is Brad's sister, 15-year-old Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh). She's worried that guys won't like her or won't want to go out with her because she's not experienced enough with the opposite sex and because she's a virgin. Over the school year she meets several boys (and men). Some of them care about her, like Mark (Brian Backer), an insecure guy who's too shy to make a real move. Some of the guys she goes out with ultimately are too immature to handle the consequences of having sex and end up shooting themselves in the foot. One of the boys she dates is Mike (Robert Romanus), he fancies himself a ladie's man and earns money taking bets and scalping tickets. The character you'll remember best is Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli, a pot-head surfer who butts heads with his strict teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston). The film follows all of these characters through the school year; watching most of them grow up into more mature, well-rounded individuals... but not all of them.

There are plenty of funny moments of the film and the most memorable ones come from Spicoli infuriating his schoolteacher. Whether you connect more with the student or the teacher, both have their share of good lines and seeing their grudge-match escalate is very entertaining. The best thing is that Spicoli is so out of it he doesn't even realize there's a rivalry going on but he still manages to get a couple of good shots in. Of course, he comes to regret it because Mr. Hand is determined to reciprocate in kind. When it comes to the other characters, their stories tend to have less laughs and more heart but there are plenty of comedic scenes. Check out Brad when he tries to flirt with a fellow driver, only for her to laugh at him. That's the thing about wearing a uniform at work; even if it's totally ridiculous and embarrassing, if you wear it long enough you forget all about it. Little moments like that and some of the vulnerabilities that Stacy shows really ring true; they form a nice balance between the funny stuff. Most people will remember the film for its comedic moments, but there really is a lot of heart and truth in it. The moments where the teenagers are shown to be vulnerable or self-conscious are what really elevate the film beyond just a silly high-school stoner movie.

It might not be as funny, as heart-wrenching or poignant as it wants to be, but there's plenty to like here. Seeing it for the first time, I see what the appeal is and I'm comfortable saying that it's a movie that will get better with repeat viewings. There's something here that will hit the mark for pretty much everyone so despite some of the shortcomings, I highly recommend you check it out. (Theatrical version on Dvd, October 20, 2013).