Must See Comedy: Fast Times At Ridgemont High [VIDEO]

I dialed up "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" yesterday and was reminded of what a treasure it is.  You see, I LIVED "Fast Times" in Southern California before moving to Texas.  The book came out in 1981 with the movie coming out in 1982.  I left California in 1978, so I knew ALL of these characters.

The original story for this film was actually about the hierarchy of fast food workers and mall culture at the time.  This is still reflected in the film because "Brad" (Judge Reinhold) is on top of the world as the head cook of "All American Burger", then when he loses his job his station in life seriously deteriorates until he becomes a hero at the end all over again.

So why should you, 'class of 2000' or something go back and watch this movie? Well the themes are pretty much universal and there's a real dark streak to this movie.  Let's not forget this movie has story lines about oral sex, losing your virginity, how scumy people can be and more.  There's also some AWESOME nudity.

There's a lot of fun stuff in this time capsule as well.  The shock of the two kids when they have to pay "Damone" $20 for first ten row Van Halen tickets (they complain the tickets were only $12.50 at the box office).

Pretty much every actor who's was anybody is in the 80's and 90's was in this movie.  Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn, Forrest Whittaker, Nicolas Cage, Pheobe Cates, Anthony Edwards, Eric Stoltz, the aforementioned Judge Reinhold (Beverly Hills Cop) and even a cameo by Nancy Wilson of Heart.

Oh there's one thing that really aggravates me about the movie though.   Damon tells Rat that when it comes down to making out to put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.  Cut to Damone and Stacy in the car, Kashmir starts playing and the audience laughs.  The problem is, Kashmir was on Physical Graffiti and not Zeppelin IV.  Sorry, that bothers me.

Here's the original trailer: