Fast Times at Ridgemont High
We didn't intentionally pick two Amy Heckerling movies back-to-back, but it certainly made for an interesting comparison. On this episode, we're revisiting her imminently quotable debut feature - Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Although this frequently gets lumped together with certain John Hughes movies and other popular 80s teen comedies, Fast Times actually has a fairly different tone than a lot of those films. That's one of the reasons the three of us weren't exactly sure what to make of it on our initial viewings. Opinions have shifted over time, however, and there might even be more to appreciate about this one now than when we were the age of these characters.
Topics include: Cameron Crowe's original novel and the unbelievable method he used to write it, how this is almost two different movies unfolding simultaneously and the way Crowe & Heckerling make that work, what this gets right about high school cliques, our own stories about teenage awkwardness, and much more!