Plot: Amy Heckerling's adaptation of Cameron Crowe's {-Fast Times at Ridgemont High} is often considered one of the finest films of a disreputable genre (the teen sex comedy), and kick-started the careers of many future stars. The center of this ensemble film is Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton.
She is a young, innocent high-school student who, as the film opens, is asking for advice from her friend, the sexually outspoken Linda Barrett (
Phoebe Cates). Stacy takes a liking to nebbish Mark Ratner (
Brian Backer), but he is too afraid to make a move even after Stacy all but throws herself at him. She eventually hooks up with Mark's more confident best friend, Mike Damone (
Robert Romanus). When not concerning itself with these four characters, the film spends time with stoned surfer dude Jeff Spicoli (
Sean Penn) and his ongoing feud with history teacher Mr. Hand (
Ray Walston). The film includes brief appearances by such future stars as
Nicolas Cage,
Eric Stoltz, and
Forest Whitaker. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide.
