Who wasn't in Fast Times At Ridgemont High

One of the cheerleaders is Bruce Springsteen's sister.

Sean Penn is now six, seven years younger than Ray Walston was:

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Just looked at the clip Criterion puts up. "This is U.S. history--I see the globe right there."

Definitely one of those iconic films famous for being one thing (in this case, funny) but in reality being a lot grittier and more depressing than people remember it. See also: Saturday Night Fever, Porky's ...

I can't remember where I read it, and after I read it I couldn't believe that I hadn't noticed it before, but there are no parents in the movie, the kids are all on their own in their teenage world

Rewatched on big screen today. What struck me was how sweet it is. There's not an unlikeable character in the whole film. It's very bittersweet for me because I started high school in '82 and there's so much shock of recognition in the film. I remember the precise semester when suddenly every other dude was wearing checkerboard pattern Van's slip-ons because of Jeff Spicoli. I remember girls like Phoebe Cates' character who allegedly had a college-age boyfriend but no one ever saw him.

The background detail really floored me. Stupid things, like RC Cola cups.

Made me think 1982 was another planet altogether.

It's a great, great film. Damone has a couple of moments where you hate him, but I agree, even he patches things up with Ratner in his own way. I've noticed the last couple of years that Spicoli's checkerboard running shoes have made a comeback with intermediate students.

Wait, “Another Girl, Another Planet” was on the soundtrack? Oh, I see.

Yes, we see how and why Damone has his moment with Stacy but we also see that he palpably regrets it because he values his friendship with Ratner and his reputation as a straight shooter.

The three girls who look like Pat Benatar, LOL

What elevates this film is that is legitimately FUNNY while most teen sex comedies of the ‘80s are simply BONEHEADED

Funny and also more human and sweet like you said.

Thank you. Not to shit on contemporary filmmakers but I can’t imagine a film like this being made today, with no snarkiness or blatant malice in the script. We live in a zero sum world now.

You can't even portray abortion in a mainstream studio movie today.

It was a big jolt how casually the abortion topic was dealt with. The big dispute (which was resolved quickly) was about who would pay the $150 for it.

No parents in the movie either

Which is period accurate