FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH
(R)
MOVIE: **1/2 (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
Based on the book by Cameron Crowe, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” takes a look at a group of teenagers at Ridgemont High School and how their classes, their jobs and their sexuality is influenced over the course of a year. Not being a huge fan of Crowe’s work, I found the characters mostly irritating, which is what he tends to focus on in people. But I cannot say they aren’t realistic. We’ve all known the girl who’s dating an older man, thinking it makes her more mature but not realizing that she’s in a relationship with a sleaze bag. Or the slutty girl who thinks losing her virginity in high school is going to make people like her beyond her panties. Or the stoner who seems to drift through life. Or the guy who tries to be good but ends up getting dumped on throughout his high school career.
The characters are realistic just as the narcissistic angst from “Twilight” is realistic… it’s just not likeable to me. Still, there’s a definite nostalgia from the early 80s that is captured with the story and the soundtrack. It’s a high school staple to watch, and I knew plenty of kids in my youth who loved this film. It definitely has its moments (I’m looking at you, Phoebe Cates, and your red bikini), and there’s an attempt to give the characters some depth. Still, I’ll take something like “The Breakfast Club” or many of John Hughes films over Crowe’s characters any day.
The Blu-ray includes a U-Control spotlight on the music as well as a scene companion function. There’s also BD-Live and Pocket Blu access. Other bonus features include an in-depth documentary “Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” feature commentary and the original theatrical trailer. Again, like other recent Blu-ray releases, these basic bonus features are imports from the DVD released a few years back.