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While the styles and slang terms made Fast Times at Ridgemont High a pop culture touchstone of the early 1980s, the film's restless adolescence remains dead-on: Anyone who has been a teen will likely see a part of themselves somewhere at Ridgemont High. Director Amy Heckerling's exuberant film -- based on a script from Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous), who had gone undercover in a Southern California high school to take the pulse of America's teens in the early '80s -- shot for "awesome," and scored several direct hits. Foremost among these are the hilarious moments when stoned surfer Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) is on the screen. Charming, too, in early career-making roles are Judge Reinhold and Jennifer Jason Leigh as the dorky fast-food worker Brad Hamilton and his sister Stacy, respectively. The poolside fantasy Heckerling creates for Brad, with Phoebe Cates as the overripe object of his teenage male hormonal rampage, is at once sizzling, smart, and silly. In this teen universe, life is about crappy jobs, uninspiring classes, borrowed cars (from their parents), and sexual anxiety. That Heckerling turns it into something giddy rather than depressing is a major feat. Dave Roth

All Movie Guide

Amy Heckerling's adaptation of Cameron Crowe's Fast Times at Ridgemont High is often considered one of the finest films of a disreputable genre (the teen sex comedy), and kick-started the careers of many future stars. The center of this ensemble film is Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton. She is a young, innocent high-school student who, as the film opens, is asking for advice from her friend, the sexually outspoken Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates). Stacy takes a liking to nebbish Mark Ratner (Brian Backer), but he is too afraid to make a move even after Stacy all but throws herself at him. She eventually hooks up with Mark's more confident best friend, Mike Damone (Robert Romanus). When not concerning itself with these four characters, the film spends time with stoned surfer dude Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) and his ongoing feud with history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston). The film includes brief appearances by such future stars as Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, and Forest Whitaker. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Product Details

• UPC: 025192053023
• Source: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital, monaural
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Français
• Time: 1:30:00
• Sales Rank: 19,347

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• The Ultimate Party Collection

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