Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Directed by Amy Heckerling

Released August 13th, 1982

Screenplay and Book by Cameron Crowe

Movie synopsis courtesy of IMDB.

"A group of Southern California high school students are enjoying their most important subjects: sex, drugs and rock n' roll."

Now I am going to put this out there right away, I think that this movie is one of my least favorite 80s movies that I have seen (to date). There is something about it that doesn't click. I have thought about it and I think it is mainly the casting that went wrong.

The characters were not as popular as some other actors like Tom Cruise, the Brat Pack, Johnny Depp, Jennifer Grey, etc. back in the 80s. So they had that going for them, or well not going for them. Which that isn't a bad thing, because a lot of times you find some great actors out of people you have never heard about before. The problem was that they weren't that likable or relatable, at least I didn't care for them. Like Mike Damone for example. You can tell by the way he acts he is suppose to be kind of a bad boy, but also a ladies man to an extent. I see him as a badder version of Ferris Bueller, but he just comes off as a creep. He is not attractive, his way of going about girls is desperate, and I feel like anyone associated with him should be worried about getting arrested at any moment.

The only actor that has something going for him in this movie is Jeff Spicoli played by Sean Penn. He has the typical stoner/surfer vibe down. It seems like in most 80s movies you have to have a character like Spicoli, the stoner who could care less about school or anything else. He has a few catch phrases that create comic relief and besides that, he is used as a punching bag for the movie. Using him as cheap jokes and stereotypical story lines.

I have to say though, he is probably the originator of the phrase "I don't know." His common response to anything his teacher Mr. Hand said. Just image if this character was around when instant messaging started and he would just tell his teacher "IDK." Ha! I can just see how infuriated Mr. Hand would be with that because Spicoli doesn't even have the decency to use real words. Which in Spicoli's defense he would love because it is less work for him.

The other reason why this movie isn't one of my favorites is because it is only about sex! Yes, I know most 80s movies are, or they all come back to something sexual. This movie, though, is honestly only about that. Each of the main characters, except maybe Spicoli, has a sexual phantasy about someone, has sex, or makes out with someone.  It just seems like, what is the point of this movie? Why do we care?

I know it will seem hypocritical of me to say this because The Breakfast Club has a similar free style of not much happening, but I will explain the differences of that more when I get to that movie.

I would also love to add here about having Judge Reinhold, Brad Hamiliton, in this movie. If you don't recognize his name, he was the step-dad in The Santa Claus movies: Neil. It cracks me up seeing him in this movie, being a young horny teenager who gets a new job every other week. Whenever I watch this movie, I think it is Neil from The Santa Claus movies and this is why he is so weird as an adult, because he couldn't hold down a job as a kid and dealt with people too much. He was always working with food or as a cashier where he had to deal with annoying people, and that's why he became a psychologist in The Santa Claus movies.

Anyways, that brings me to something else that I find funny. Back in the 80s, especially in the movies, it was so common for people to have jobs working in fast food or as cashiers at gas stations, etc. But now, teenagers don't do that as much. I feel like a lot more of them work as waiters/waitresses, in movie theaters, at summer camps, at coffee shops, etc. I feel like now if you work at a fast food restaurant you are generally not a teenager. Now I am not trying to generalize or stereotype, but to me when I go to places like this I see more adult/young adults working there. Not many teenagers.

I also feel like, less teenagers have part time jobs in high school. Back in the 80s it seems like everyone had one and would go there most days after school.  (I am saying this based off the movies I have seen and what I have learned about the 80s). I looked at some demographics and it is clear that part time employment was way more popular in the 70s and 80s than it is now.

Part of that could be kids don't have as much time now. School is more difficult and demanding. Sports, clubs, and activities take up more time, doing college prep is stressed even more, plus other responsibilities people might have, how do you fit a job in there as well? The 80s were a simpler time, less stress, and more time for fun. Just ask Spicoli.

The last thing I want to say about this topic is Brad Hamiliton's way of dealing with a burglar at the gas station. Throwing hot coffee on him! It is hysterical and honestly if you tried that now-a-days, you would probably get shot in the process.

Now I want to leave this post with some positiveness. I don't hate this movie, trust me I wouldn't have written about it if I did. It is just not one of my favorites. But I have love for all 80s movies because there is a special place in my heart for everything 80s. Even for 80s movies that don't have much of a story. It still portrays the 80s as they were, which makes me happy!

Brad Hamilton: "Why don't you get a job Spicoli?"

Spicoli: "What for?"

Brad: "You need money."

Spicoli: "All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine."