Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Runtime: 89 minutes

Directed by: Amy Heckerling

Starring: A great, deep cast

From: Universal

I'd love floor seats to Van Halen for $12.50.

This was a film viewed by me many years ago; slice of life pictures aren't always my bag and despite some memorable moments (especially “that one scene”) I was lukewarm at best with the movie. However, now my movie tastes have changed and Fast Times is now better appreciated by me.

Based on Cameron Crowe's book of the same name where he went undercover as a high school kid (!) the film shows the lives of a gaggle of students at the titular high school, from freshmen through seniors. They're teenagers, so naturally the focus is on sex and relationships, although such topics as “cool cars”, jobs, and difficult teachers are also addressed. A key aspect is that the characters felt real & relatable. A few people are painted as jerks but all (even Ray Walston's amusingly grumpy Mr. Hand) are shown to have their good qualities also. Judge Reinhold's Brad acts more confident than he should for someone that crashes out at customers at his fast food job, but he is nice towards his sister Jennifer Jason Leigh and won't tell their parents about her rather serious elective medical procedure.

I went to high school in Illinois instead of So Cal but how messy and chaotic those teen years/school could be felt real. People fought over a woman, a near-brawl happens during school hours, a dude is too shy/nervous to ask a woman out so she thinks he doesn't like her, a stoner is happy to flaunt his truancy, and yes, what I'll call “self-gratification!” Teen sex was addressed honestly, including the consequences. I was a fool for not fully appreciating the movie, its authenticity, the mix of laughs and drama, the cast full of famous faces, including more than a few who would become quite famous in later years. It is amazing that nerdy Mark Ratner was based on someone who later wrote some computer books in the For Dummies series-Andy Rathbone.

The So Cal setting was charming, as was all the period fashion and the joke that several high school girls modeled their appearance after Pat Benatar. Related, the soundtrack was great; I enjoyed most of the tunes that were from a wide variety of artists, including several people that were in the Eagles. That created a good mood for me, even during the film's most sobering scenes. As said too often by me, this rewatch was long overdue, especially considering my opinion is now more in line with the general consensus. Director Amy Heckerling also deserves her props for the swell job she did. As astounding as this will sound, somewhere in the multiverse, DAVID LYNCH would have been the director; honest.

We Got the Beat from The Go Go's was a great opening credits song, but at the risk of sounding like a Gross Man, “that one scene” of Phoebe Cates in her red bikini—the scene and the usage of Moving in Stereo from The Cars will forever be legendary. I want to stress that she did well in her role-I'm not being all heart eyes about her because she was (& still is) an attractive woman.