"Fast Times At Ridgemont High - R
Amy Heckerling strikes gold with this tale of LA teenagers done exactly as they acted in 1982, inspiring the whole valley talk thing, and riffs on the phrase, "totally awesome!". Sean Penn's best movie. Nick Cage's first flick. And who can forget the Phoeme Cates poolside scene, which is actually a fantasy by a guy in a pirate hat! Ha! That gloriously titillating scene was ripped off countless times in other movies, but here is the original. And the portrayal of the naughty young lovers who make a kind of sordid and controversial decision was played down, but actually quite shocking for the time. This movie is a sweet teen comedy and a dirty comedy all in one. One of the best flicks, and certainly the best of 1982. All others were imitating.
This movie was the landmark teen coming of age comedy of the time, beating out the brooding tempest of 'The Last American Virgin" and still recalled fondly as a fun and fitting movie. Even though the plot is similar to other movies around it, and the critics didn't like it for that, it was pulled off well, partly because Amy Heckerling understands teenagers, whereas the other directors kind of didn't, with the exception of John Hughes.
This movie was the landmark teen coming of age comedy of the time, beating out the brooding tempest of 'The Last American Virgin" and still recalled fondly as a fun and fitting movie. Even though the plot is similar to other movies around it, and the critics didn't like it for that, it was pulled off well, partly because Amy Heckerling understands teenagers, whereas the other directors kind of didn't, with the exception of John Hughes.
True, there is an abortion suggested in this one also, but unlike the sadistic other film, 'LA Virgin' we don't actually see inside the clinic or anything that happens there, as it should be. The audience, mainly teen boys, would have not liked to see that kind of stuff anyway.
And the actors are memorable and still in movies today, a lot of them stinkers but they're around, and some have gone on to win Oscars, (including Penn), so the cast clearly knew what they were doing, even then. It helps to have a memorable cast and a pleasant ending.
The more realistic end for the stud guy is also satisfying. Nobody mopes off not stinking up for his or her self, and the girls even mess with his car, and even the dopey pizza guy gets a heroic moment. Stoner guy even gets to take the last history test.
Review by Adam Browne
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