Fast Times at Ridgemont High

I by no means took the Danish title "Beer, Farts and Brass Music" at face value when I decided to watch the film. Firstly, Amy Heckerling has since made several good films, among them "Clueless". Secondly, Maltin gave the film 3 stars, and thirdly, Danish titles are not always to be trusted, as they often talk down to an audience they assume to be drooling, sex-starved males. Fast Times at Ridgemont High could not, however, live up to expectations. The film is perhaps a little more mature and honest than many other teen comedies of its day, but not by much!

The film is about a group of young people attending high school in California. On the whole they are more interested in the opposite sex and in partying than in their schooling. Jeff Spicoli is a real Beavis and Butt-Head type who has nothing but surfboards and babes on his mind and therefore gives his history teacher Mr. Hand grey hairs. Mr. Hand, however, does not give up so easily!

Stacy and Linda are two sweet girls who work in the cafeteria at the Mall, so there are plenty of chances to meet cute guys. Stacy's older brother Brad has big career plans for his final year at school, but things don't go at all as planned.

What makes the film worth seeing are the many young actors making their film debuts who later made it in Hollywood, e.g. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn and Forest Whitaker.

L