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Movies / On DVD / Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High

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Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

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Reviews Counted:43

Fresh:34

Rotten:9

Average Rating:6.7/10

Consensus: While Fast Times at Ridgemont High features Sean Penn's legendary performance, the film endures because it accurately captured the small details of school, work, and teenage life.

Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: This highly appealing teen comedy created a host of new stars -- including Sean Penn -- and features a lively rock music soundtrack. The freewheeling story chronicles the sexual insecurities and... This highly appealing teen comedy created a host of new stars -- including Sean Penn -- and features a lively rock music soundtrack. The freewheeling story chronicles the sexual insecurities and adventures of a group of Southern California high school students. These shopping mall regulars experiment with drugs, surfing techniques and various fast-food secret sauce combinations. And in class (when they even go to class!) they wreak havoc -- especially when the pizza delivery arrives... [More]

Starring: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates

Starring: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Robert Romanus, Ray Walston, Eric Stoltz, Brian Backer, Pamela Springsteen, Martin Brest, Nicholas Coppola

Director: Amy Heckerling

Director: Amy Heckerling
Screenwriter: Cameron Crowe, Jonathan Roberts
Composer: Joe Walsh

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Reviews for Fast Times at Ridgemont High

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Great fun if not quite the great teen pic some believe it to be.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2007 06:25 PM

Channel 4 Film

splat

Lacks the frenzied energy which allowed Porky's to beat all competitors in its field.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 26 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

tomato
4/5

Rich Cline

a high school comedy gem

comment Comment | Sep., 19 2004 04:41 AM

Shadows on the Wall

tomato

Mark Dinning

What plot there is garnishes itself with an array of such like-minded sensibilities that you'd be hard pushed to find much in the way of fault.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

Empire Magazine

splat

Richard Corliss

Director Amy Heckerling has failed to provide the raunch or poignancy that would interest young moviegoers, all of whom have seen American Graffiti and its 467 imitators. Ridgemont High? A nice place to visit, but who would want to transfer there?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 13 2009 03:33 PM

TIME Magazine

tomato
3/4

James Berardinelli

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 10 2008 03:15 AM

ReelViews

splat

Variety Staff

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 18 2007 03:08 PM

Variety

tomato
3/4

A brashly funny yet sensitive comedy that has become a cult favorite.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 18 2007 03:06 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

splat

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Was never all it was cracked up to be.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 18 2007 03:05 PM

Chicago Reader

tomato
4/5

Cole Smithey

No review available.

comment Comment | Dec., 08 2006 03:12 PM

ColeSmithey.com

tomato
3/4

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Director Amy Heckerling almost encourages the film's shapelessness, letting the individual moments speak for themselves, rather than molding a cohesive whole.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 26 2006 03:16 AM

Combustible Celluloid

tomato
4/5

Brad Laidman

[Penn] sets the tone of fun for the whole movie.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 07:51 PM

Film Threat

tomato
4/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 02 2005 01:50 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
5/5

Kevin A. Ranson

Sean Penn's calling never left Mr. Hand's classroom.

comment Comment | Jun., 13 2005 12:00 PM

MovieCrypt.com

tomato
4/5

Thomas Delapa

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 09 2005 03:54 PM

Boulder Weekly

splat
1/5

Michael E. Grost

overrated

comment 3 Comments | May., 28 2005 02:16 PM

Classic Film and Television

tomato
4.5/5

Scott Weinberg

The great high-school comedy that spawned a thousand rip-offs.

comment Comment | Apr., 03 2005 01:53 AM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato
4/4

Phil Villarreal

The comedy captured the brutal realism of post-sexual-revolution high school life and has been imitated often, rarely equaled, and surpassed only once.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 04 2005 06:35 AM

Arizona Daily Star

tomato
3/5

Nell Minow

No review available.

comment Comment | Feb., 25 2005 04:58 AM

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

splat
2/4

Matt Brunson

The filmmakers' attempts to capture the "real" high school experience run hot and cold, while the comedy quotient just doesn't cut it.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Nov., 09 2004 02:47 PM

Creative Loafing

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Fast Times at Ridgemont High

August 21, 2008: EW Lists 11 Movies with a Playboy Connection Opens in new window
Just in time for The House Bunny's theatrical debut, Entertainment Weekly has compiled a list of 11 notable films with a Playboy connection. Put on your bunny ears! More...

January 15, 2008: Ice Cube's Welcome Back, Kotter Waiting On Weinsteins
Okay, so maybe John Singleton isn't completely sold on the idea of Ice Cube as B.A. Baracus in his A-Team adaptation. That's fine. You know what? Ice Cube has his own television... More...

January 03, 2006: Vincent Schiavelli Passes at 57
Character actor Vincent Schiavelli, the long-faced veteran of over 150 film and television appearances, died of lung cancer December 26 at home in Sicily. He was 57 years old. More...

August 15, 2005: Paul Rudd Wooed by Michelle Pfeiffer's "Woman"
Paul Rudd has signed on to play opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in the upcoming Amy Heckerling comedy "I Could Never Be Your Woman," says The Hollywood Reporter. More...

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