Before the classic John Hughes teen movies of the 1980s came the pioneer to the genre, and in a way, a movie with a uniqueness that simply can’t be described with words.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” was released to theaters in August of 1982. It features context and dialogue that has a strange openness to it. An openness that was introduced in the 1960s, and explored briefly in the 1970s, and serves as a smooth introduction to the decade that was the 1980s. Though it wouldn’t win any Academy Awards, it does boast an all star cast and cameos of big time names that would eventually go on to great things, and has earned every ounce of praise and cult status that it still has today.
Dialogue aside, the pop culture references and little touches of 80s nostalgia make the film an utterly priceless piece of art. That the movie opens with a Go-Go’s song blasting over character introductions at a local shopping mall is nothing short of aces, and the fashion and soundtrack that follow are just what fans would expect.
It was written by Cameron Crowe (based off his 1981 book of the same name) and directed by Amy Heckerling. It’s important to note that Heckerling was 28 years old at the time and Crowe just 25. That they were these young ages meant they weren’t just writing about teen and high school students of the era, they were firsthand witnesses, making the movie so much more appealing from a realistic perspective.
The movie follows an iconic and unforgettable set of characters and their exploits over the course of a typical school year at the fictitious titular institution. As is the case with high school movies, the school is massive in size and there are of course sets of clicks – but no bullying in this film, and it demonstrates that to make a successful high school story you don’t need the inflated and overused plot of dumb jock picking on skinny nerd.
The ensemble cast is perfectly represented of what one may consider to be typical high school students of that era. Jennifer Jason Leigh is easily the dominant character, plying the shy and adorable sophomore Stacy Hamilton. Lacking sexual experience, Stacy gets advice from her best friend Linda (Phoebe Cates) in some of the more extraordinary exchanges of risque dialogue one will ever find. The scenes are shot in such a terrific way that anyone watching will relate to them effortlessly. The speech is natural, and slightly surprising given the year the movie was released. It would doubtless be considered too graphic by today’s prudish standards.
Phoebe Cates would later go on to co-star in the blockbuster “Gremlins” but her role in “Ridgemont” is her best, and one particular scene consisting of her character Linda and a swimming pool (I’ll leave it at that) is easily on of the most iconic and memorable scenes in cinematic history.
The timid Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) is a novice dater who pines over Stacy, getting support from his slick talking friend Mike Damone (Robert Romanus).
Stacy’s older brother Brad (Judge Reinhold) is the hotshot senior that seemingly gets everything with ease, and Sean Penn plays surfer dude Jeff Spicoli, a student described as being “stoned since the third grade.” Spicoli is a hysterical character that is the obvious blueprint for so many other on-screen types of the ilk that would later follow, and his rivalry with a tough and old fashioned history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston) is a thing of perfection.
Judge Reinhold is always funny, from his roles in the “Santa Clause” series to the classic close-Talker in Seinfeld, and here plays the part of the dutiful son like clockwork. His interactions with little sister Stacy are what makes the story so touching when it takes a break from the laughs.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” makes its mark by being just an ordinary life story of typical high school students. Status is attained by the fast food place you work at. Friendships and advice, both good and bad, are the only support system you need.
I place it in my personal Top 20 favorite films list. Decades after its release, it still holds up as a simple story with great writing and characters that leave a permanent mark.
by – Matt DeCristo
