I recently had the opportunity to introduce a couple friends to the teen-classic, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and I realized just how hard it is to convey the experience of seeing Fast Times back when it was new and fresh, because it’s the source of so many now-cliché bits.
Thinly veiled versions of Sean Penn’s surfer-stoner character, Spicoli, ended up everywhere in the late 80s — even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles borrowed his style — but it was new in 1983.
Also, at the time, this was legitimately shocking:
Jeff Spicoli: Hey, you’re ripping my card.
Mr. Hand: Yes.
Jeff Spicoli: Hey, bud, what’s your problem?
Mr. Hand: No problem at all. I think you know where the front office is.
Jeff Spicoli: You dick!
In this era of Superbad, that’s nothing.
Watching the movie also convinced me to look up a few things.
I can’t say I knew Vincent Schiavelli by name, but I certainly recognized him from any number of roles.
I didn’t realize that his distinctive appearance came as a result of Marfan syndrome.