fast times at ridgemont high (1982)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Story by: Cameron Crowe
Genre: coming-of-age comedy
length: 1h 32m
Budget: 5 million USD
Box office: $27 million (America)
release date: August 13, 1982
watched: February 3, 2025 (first viewing: 2014)
“The attitude dictates that you don't care whether she comes, stays, lays, or prays. I mean whatever happens, your toes are still tappin'.”
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) is one of my top coming-of-age movies of all time.
Based on writer Cameron Crowe’s book, which recounts his real-life experiences going undercover as a high school student, the story follows a group of students from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California: Brad and Stacy Hamilton, Linda Barrett, Mike Damone, Mark "Rat" Ratner, and Jeff Spicoli.
Brad, a popular senior expecting a bright year ahead, sees his luck turn sour after getting fired from All-American Burger. Stacy, a 15-year-old freshman, navigates the complexities of sexuality, seeking advice from her older best friend, Linda. Mark, known as "The Rat," is smitten with Stacy and seeks guidance from his self-assured best friend, Mike—a smooth talker who earns money gambling and scalping tickets.
Meanwhile, Jeff Spicoli just wants to get high and go surfing.
My first exposure from this film was from my mom. She was was twelve when she watched Fast Times upon its release in 1982, and she was floored. Explicit content in a commercial teen movie was almost unheard of at the time. For male teenagers, Phoebe Cates stripping off her bikini top was as much a historical event as the moon landing.
I can’t say I had the same experience as my mom. By the time I watched Fast Times in 2014, raunchy coming-of-age movies were already commonplace for my generation. We were raised on shows like One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, 16 and Pregnant, American Pie, and Not Another Teen Movie.
And yet, I still found Fast Times edgy. It neither glamorized nor overdramatized high school life like many teen films do. It held two opposing ideas simultaneously: being a teenager is light and breezy, but also dark and heavy. One moment, you’re laughing your ass off at the class stoner ordering pizza in the middle of a lecture. The next moment, you’re alone at an abortion clinic because the guy who got you pregnant didn’t give you a ride or pitch in his $75.
There is a delicate balance when dealing with teenage sexuality on screen: you want it as real as it can be without becoming exploitative. Stacy losing her virginity to a 26-year-old stereo salesman was controversial to display on film. At the same time, it was a real-life account in Cameron Crowe’s book. The question becomes: do you want to tell the truth, or be politically correct?
I’m glad the film chose the former. What I appreciate about Heckerling’s direction is that she wasn’t contemptuous toward these matters. She doesn’t allow the film to dictate the characters’ actions as damning or unforgiving. When Brad caught Stacy lying about going bowling to get an abortion, He simply picked her up and promised to keep her secret—as if it wasn’t a big moral dilemma. When Mike left Stacy with no support for the abortion, he suffered some consequences, but ultimately, he was somewhat redeemed by Rat, who is supposedly in love with Stacy.
Heckerling handled the story’s heaviness with a lot of care. At the same time, she kept it irreverent. Let’s not forget that teenagers are some of the horniest people on the planet—and it’s not just the men. While Brad is getting caught masturbating by his sister’s best friend, Stacy is having an oral sex masterclass in the cafeteria with Linda using carrots. You can call her Daddy.
carrot scene
Stacy is also unapologetic with her inquiries: "How long does a guy last in bed?" "When a guy orgasms, how much should come out?" "Do you think guys find that more attractive?"
For a young lady to ask such presumptuous questions was quite scandalous at the time. However, I can guarantee you that these are the kinds of thoughts that haunt teenage girls at night. The film recognizes that it’s a complete myth that only young men are outrageously curious about sex.
All in all, the heart of this film is teenage horniness. Though it’s exciting, there are risks in navigating its terrain; it’s awkward, it’s creepy, and it’s confusing. If you can move through it unscathed, then congratulations.
Teen sexuality aside, Fast Times is one of the coolest movies ever. The dialogue, fashion, mall setting, and soundtrack capture the vibe of ‘80s high school life perfectly. The opening montage with the Go-Go’s We Got the Beat will lock you into the film from the very beginning. Somebody’s Baby by Jackson Browne was an appropriate backdrop for an inappropriate scene A.K.A. Stacy’s sexual encounter with the older man. She was, quite literally, a baby.
Mike may have been the biggest scumbag in the movie, but you can’t deny his impeccable style and taste in music. him recommending Side one of Led Zeppelin IV as a make-out song was a great punchline. To tie everything together, Sean Penn’s portrayal of a Californian surfer dude remains one of the most timeless performances in pop culture history.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High defined an entire era of teenagers. If you’re curious to know what high school was like in the ‘80s, this is one of the best period pieces of its time. It also balances humor and drama quite well. I will say, though, that this film is grittier than most of its counterparts. Considering the current cultural climate, it may appear dated to some. On the other hand, if you’re into stories with a more earnest approach, you’ll appreciate the movie and all of its quirks.
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out its legendary opening credit sequence:
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