AT RIDGEMONT HIGH ONLY THE RULES GET BUSTED!
A group of teenagers at Ridgemont High in southern California are curious about sex; one of them, Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh), has a few peculiar experiences… Cameron Crowe, who was a journalist at the time, wrote this entertaining look at teenagers’ attitude to sex, and together with first-time director Amy Heckerling made a challenging movie that borrowed heavily from real life. Easy to like, but considering the film’s status as a classic I was expecting writing that brings greater laughs and insight. Best ingredient is the cast, with Sean Penn as the blonde stoner surfer and Leigh as a girl on the verge of entering adulthood.
1982-U.S. 92 min. Color. Directed by Amy Heckerling. Screenplay, Novel: Cameron Crowe. Cast: Sean Penn (Jeff Spicoli), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Stacy Hamilton), Judge Reinhold (Brad Hamilton), Robert Romanus, Brian Backer, Phoebe Cates… Forest Whitaker, Martin Brest.
Trivia: Eric Stoltz, Anthony Edwards and Nicolas Cage appear in bit parts; this was their (and Whitaker’s) film debut. Cage was also reportedly considered for the part of Brad; David Lynch for directing duties. Followed by a TV series, Fast Times (1986).
