I was very curious about this movie because it's considered by many a cult generational movie about american teens of the beginning of the 1980s and also because it has been the debut of many future major stars (such as Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage in a bit role, Forest Whitaker, Judge Reinhold and Anthony Edwards). I finally saw it a few months ago and, while I didn't found it excellent, I still liked it.
The film focuses on various characters, but mostly on Jeff Spicoli (Penn) and Brad Hamilton (Reinhold). Spicoli is a stoned surfer who loves to skip school and run afoul of his strict history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston) and loves to drug himself with his best friends (Edwards and Eric Stoltz). He even ends up wrecking the car of sports athlete Charles Jefferson (Whitaker) who being very angry manages to win the game and before the graduation dance he has to suffer 8 hours of private lessons by his teacher, and he'll finally understand the lesson. Brad Hamilton is a senior at Ridgemont High School who has to finish the studies. He works at the All-American Burger but after a while is fired after insulting a costumer, and of course he is suddenly left by his girlfriend. After a while he obtains a job at a convenience store and he is promoted as the manager after foiling a robbery with the help of Spicoli who came by casually.
This movie has aged well. The performances by the then unknown actors are very good (especially Penn's), the soundtrack has some very cool songs of its time (my favourite is GOODBYE GOODBYE) and despite a few dirty scenes, the movie is fun. It's just a generational movie that today would probably be enjoyed by teens (including myself since I was still 21 when I saw it). And it's also a great time capsule for its time.
The film focuses on various characters, but mostly on Jeff Spicoli (Penn) and Brad Hamilton (Reinhold). Spicoli is a stoned surfer who loves to skip school and run afoul of his strict history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston) and loves to drug himself with his best friends (Edwards and Eric Stoltz). He even ends up wrecking the car of sports athlete Charles Jefferson (Whitaker) who being very angry manages to win the game and before the graduation dance he has to suffer 8 hours of private lessons by his teacher, and he'll finally understand the lesson. Brad Hamilton is a senior at Ridgemont High School who has to finish the studies. He works at the All-American Burger but after a while is fired after insulting a costumer, and of course he is suddenly left by his girlfriend. After a while he obtains a job at a convenience store and he is promoted as the manager after foiling a robbery with the help of Spicoli who came by casually.
This movie has aged well. The performances by the then unknown actors are very good (especially Penn's), the soundtrack has some very cool songs of its time (my favourite is GOODBYE GOODBYE) and despite a few dirty scenes, the movie is fun. It's just a generational movie that today would probably be enjoyed by teens (including myself since I was still 21 when I saw it). And it's also a great time capsule for its time.