May 28, 2024
'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'
All The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Mallory Rubin need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and they're fine after rewatching the 1982 classic 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' starring Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Phoebe Cates.
Cast
Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton
Phoebe Cates as Linda Barrett
Judge Reinhold as Brad Hamilton
Robert Romanus as Mike Damone
Brian Backer as Mark 'Rat' Ratner
Forest Whitaker as Charles Jefferson
Eric Stoltz as Stoner Bud
Anthony Edwards as Stoner Bud
Nicolas Cage as Brad's Bud
Ray Walston as Mr. Hand
Directed by: Amy Heckerling
Written by: Cameron Crowe
Notes
- Budget of $5 million, grossed $27 million. Only 90 minutes with credits.
- Cameron Crowe went undercover at Claremont High School in San Diego while writing for Rolling Stone, redid a year of high school as an adult, wrote a book, then adapted it as the screenplay.
- Amy Heckerling was about 27-28 when directing – the non-judgmental tone comes from being close enough in age to the characters. She made two 'perfect high school movies': Fast Times and 'Clueless'.
- Universal didn't know what they had. Executives worried about putting the studio's future in hands of movies like this. Initially released primarily in western US.
- The VHS became one of the biggest rentals of the mid-80s. The Phoebe Cates pool scene wore out rental tapes from repeated pausing and rewinding.
- Sean Penn was clearly stealing the movie on set – producers told Cameron Crowe to write more Spicoli scenes. Universal wanted a 'Spicoli Goes to College' sequel; Penn declined.
- Damone's Five Point Plan advice about girls came from real advice Glenn Frey gave Cameron Crowe.
- The Led Zeppelin song in the Five Point Plan scene isn't on Led Zeppelin IV – it's on Physical Graffiti. Cameron Crowe said there was a publishing snafu.
- Jennifer Jason Leigh worked at the real Perry's Pizza for three weeks to prepare for her role.
- Phoebe Cates was a teen model (four Seventeen magazine covers) before acting. Later married Kevin Kline and stepped away from Hollywood.
- David Lynch was Universal's recommendation to direct. Justine Bateman was offered Linda Barrett but turned it down for Family Ties. Jodie Foster was offered Stacy but chose to stay in college.
- The Spicoli character did not exist in movies/TV before this – every stoner surfer dude character since is a rip-off.
- Cameron Crowe based Rat on student Andy Rathbone, who later wrote the 'For Dummies' book series.
- Mallory: this has always been 'Stacy's movie' – perspective shifts as you age. First it's a Spicoli movie, then Stacy's movie, then as a parent it's amazing.
- Sean Penn, Eric Stoltz, and Anthony Edwards actually smoked pot in the van for the prom exit scene.
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“How could they do this to Jennifer Jason Leigh? How could they put such a fresh and cheerful person into such a scuzz pit of a movie?”
Ebert gave it 1 star. Bill: 'Fuck you, Rodge. One star is like there is nothing redeemable about this movie.' Ebert later walked it back. Mallory notes he wrote the review from Mr. Hand's perspective: 'Are you all on dope?' Chris points out Ebert wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, making the prudish review surprising.
Most re-watchable scene
- Bill: The opening credits mall introduction with 'We Got the Beat' by the Go-Go's.
- Chris: The pool scene. Mallory agrees – her pick.
- Other contenders: Mr. Hand's first class with Spicoli, the blowjob/carrot cafeteria scene, Damone's Five Point Plan, Spicoli crashing Jefferson's car, the abortion day scene, Mr. Hand showing up at Spicoli's house.
What aged the best?
- 90-minute movies – 'the best 90 minute movies.'
- The soundtrack: We Got the Beat, American Girl, Somebody's Baby, Moving in Stereo by The Cars, Led Zeppelin.
- The girls being just as horny as the guys – female agency.
- Mike Damone as 'Hall of Fame sleaze' character type.
- Damone's room as the most realistic teenager room ever in movies (Devo, Elvis Costello, Tattoo You posters, mini bar with Kahlua).
- The Vans checkerboard slip-ons – credited with launching Vans as a brand.
- The cast: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Forest Whitaker, Eric Stoltz, Anthony Edwards, Nicolas Cage.
What aged the worst?
- Going undercover at a high school as an adult – 'pretty sure you can't do that anymore.'
- A 19-year-old actress being nude multiple times in a major Hollywood movie.
- 1982 abortion costing $75 and a ride – the movie treats it matter-of-factly compared to later movies that dance around it.
- Smoking section in movie theaters.
- The 1986 Fast Times TV series (with Patrick Dempsey as Mike Damone).
Cruise or Hanks?
Hanks wins
Hanks as Brad Hamilton. They discuss Cruise playing Damone would have been amazing – 'Cruise's Damone would have been amazing' – but Cruise 'wouldn't have done the two pumps.' Score is 5-5.
Best needle drop
- Bill: 'American Girl' by Tom Petty pulling into the parking lot.
- Also discussed: 'Moving in Stereo' by The Cars for the pool scene.
Casting what-ifs
- David Lynch was Universal's recommendation to direct – would have been a much darker movie.
- Justine Bateman was offered Linda Barrett but turned it down for Family Ties.
- Nicolas Cage auditioned for Brad Hamilton but was deemed too young.
- Jodie Foster was offered Stacy but chose to stay in college.
- Others who auditioned: Ally Sheedy, Meg Tilly, Ralph Macchio.
- Fred Gwynn was offered Mr. Hand but thought the movie was 'too nasty.'
Over-acting award
- Bill: Mark Ratner getting mad at Damone in the locker room – 'tries to dial it up, didn't have it in him.'
- Chris: Kelly Maroney (the cheerleader: 'We're going to kill Lincoln next week!').
Best "that guy"
- Vincent Schiavelli (Mr. Vargas) – who then continues to play this type of role forever.
- Taylor Negron (the pizza delivery guy).
Best "heat check" performance
Mallory and Bill: Forest Whitaker as Charles Jefferson.
The hottest take award
- Chris: Mr. Hand is actually a pretty good teacher – Spicoli ends up learning real history.
- Mallory: Spicoli is secretly a genius/scholar.
- Bill (self-proclaimed winner): Ron Johnson is a child predator – 26-year-old eating meatball subs alone in the mall, hitting on teenagers, takes a 15-year-old to his high school baseball dugout.
Apex Mountain
- Young Sean Penn (81-85 era): Yes, this is it.
- Phoebe Cates: Yes.
- Mall movies: 'I think it's this.'
- High school movies: 'Not the Apex Mountain, but probably the most influential of all of them' – Bill compares it to Dr. J (set the tone), while 'Dazed and Confused' is Jordan.
Picking nits
- The Led Zeppelin song in the Five Point Plan isn't on Led Zeppelin IV, it's on Physical Graffiti.
- Football season should have ended before Christmas scenes – timeline error.
- Damone should have $75 cash on hand given his scalping operation.
- Rat forgives Damone way too quickly.
- Ron Johnson knowing where Stacy lives even though they met at a secret location.
Half-assed (internet) research
- Filmed at Sherman Oaks Galleria after hours; school scenes at Van Nuys High School.
- Cameron Crowe based Rat on Andy Rathbone, who later wrote the 'For Dummies' book series.
- A more explicit pool house scene got an X-rating and had to be cut.
- On set, Sean Penn was clearly stealing the movie, so they added more Spicoli scenes.
- Judge Reinhold allegedly brought a large dildo to the masturbation scene without telling the cast (Bill is skeptical).
Best (or worst!) life lessons from the movie
- Bill: How to cheat during exams (cheat sheet taped to leg, in sunglasses, quarterback arm-roll technique).
- Mallory: Lock your door – Spicoli: 'I don't hear you unless you knock.'
Best double feature for this movie
- Bill: Valley Girl or Last American Virgin (staying in the 1982 era).
- Chris: American Graffiti (Heckerling acknowledged it as a huge touchstone).
- Also suggested: Fast Times + 'Clueless' (Amy Heckerling double feature).
Who won the movie?
Sean Penn. Also Jennifer Jason Leigh. Craig notes the movie's depiction of gender maturity differences is brilliant: 'The women are constantly opening up and talking about sex. The men do not talk about sex, they just imagine it.'