Fast Times at Ridgemont High

“Aloha Mr. Hand” is the line that I will always think about when summing up the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Writer and producer Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) along with director Amy Heckerling bring us this film about high school in California in 1982. Fast Times at Ridgemont High brings us the story of what high school really is like. With lots of topics that may be touchy such as drugs and sex, this film gives viewers the best feel for the awkward years that make up high school. After all, this film was based off Cameron Crowe’s book where he actually went to a Califoniria High School and went undercover as a student. The film shows us a very proper feel for high school when it shows us the different social groups hanging out, something that was very similar to what went on at the high school, which I attended. My personal favorite character in Fast Times at Ridgemont High was Jeff Spicoli. Spicoli played by actor Sean Penn is the classic California “stoner” who just sits around, surfs, smokes pot and drives a VW Bus without a care for a thing in the world. The film’s main plot surrounds Characters Stacey and Mark; these two give us a great summarization of what high school romance is really about. I thought that this film showed lots of 80’s signifiers, from the way the cars looked to the way that the students were dressed, this film was totally 80’s. I would recommend this film to anyone who wants to sit and watch a film that would thoroughly entertain him or her while teaching them a lesson of romance at the same time.