Synopsis
Based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times follows a group of high school students growing up in Southern California. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. At the center of the film is Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer who faces-off with the resolute Mr. Hand—a man convinced that everyone is on dope.
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Cast
- Sean PennJeff Spicoli
- Jennifer Jason LeighStacy Hamilton
- Judge ReinholdBrad Hamilton
- Robert RomanusMike Damone
- Brian BackerMark 'Rat' Ratner
- Phoebe CatesLinda Barrett
- Ray WalstonMr. Hand
- Scott ThomsonArnold
- Vincent SchiavelliMr. Vargas
- Amanda WyssLisa
Recommendations
- 100
New Times (L.A.)
Perfectly capturing the zeitgeist of American high school life in the '80s, complete with a Rubik's cube reference, the funny and occasionally harsh Fast Times, with all due apologies to John Hughes and Mickey Rooney, may be the greatest teen movie ever made (even though Cates was the only real teen). - 100
Austin Chronicle
Amy Heckerling’s portrait of high school/shopping mall life in Southern California is still just about as good as it gets...The panoply of teen types and turmoils is dead-on accurate. - 90
The A.V. Club
A Trojan horse of a teen comedy that balanced lowbrow gags with subtle humor, genuine insight—Crowe spent a year undercover as a high-school student—and pathos. - 80
Film Threat
Sean Penn's scenes are still so stunning...His Jeff Spicoli is an unabashed kick every second he is on the screen. - 75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
If the publicity release can be believed, he worked an entire year "undercover as a student to research teenage life". On the basis of what surfaces here - one stock phrase (the kids say "Go for it]" a lot) and a multitude of stock characters - Crowe might better have spent the time curled up with re-runs of Ozzie and Harriet. Give this intrepid researcher 12 months at General Motors and he might just discover the wheel. - 60
Variety
The nice thing is that Crowe and director Amy Heckerling have provided something pleasant to observe in all of these characters though they really are sadly lacking in anything gripping. - 60
TV Guide Magazine
The film's most memorable character is the perpetually stoned surfer played by Sean Penn. His confrontations with Mr. Hand (Walston), a draconian history teacher, provide the film's finest moments. - 50
The New York Times
There's a lot to make [Heckerling's] film likeable, but not much to hold it together. [3 Sept 1982, p.C6]
