The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Comedy · Romance · Drama · 1982
A group of Southern-California high school students ignore their studies in favor of indulging in their teenage distractions.
Movie details
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
“At Ridgemont High, only the rules get busted!”
1982 Comedy · Romance · Drama 1h 30m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.8 / 10
Community rating
A group of Southern-California high school students ignore their studies in favor of indulging in their teenage distractions.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Fast Times at Ridgemont High?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
It's Kind of a Funny Story
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A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward.
Now and Then
Comedy · 1995
Waxing nostalgic about the bittersweet passage from childhood to puberty, four childhood girlfriends — Teeny, Chrissy, Samantha and Roberta — recall the magical summer of 1970. During their walk down memory lane, they reconcile experiences with boys, secrets, bullies and more.
The First Time
Drama · 2012
A spark of attraction smolders, then ignites, between two teens from different high schools who meet by chance at a party.
The Spectacular Now
Comedy · 2013
Sutter, a popular party animal, unexpectedly meets the introverted Aimee after waking up on a stranger's lawn. As Sutter deals with the problems in his life and Aimee plans for her future beyond school, an unexpected romance blossoms between them.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Drama · 2005
Four best friends (Tibby, Lena, Carmen & Bridget) who buy a mysterious pair of pants that fits each of them, despite their differing sizes, and makes whoever wears them feel fabulous. When faced with the prospect of spending their first summer apart, the pals decide they'll swap the pants so that each girl in turn can enjoy the magic.
The Half of It
Comedy · 2020
Shy, straight-A student Ellie is hired by sweet but inarticulate jock Paul, who needs help wooing the most popular girl in school. But their new and unlikely friendship gets tricky when Ellie discovers she has feelings for the same girl.
After
Drama · 2019
Tessa Young is a dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart. Entering her first semester of college, Tessa's guarded world opens up when she meets Hardin Scott, a mysterious and brooding rebel who makes her question all she thought she knew about herself -- and what she wants out of life.
10 Things I Hate About You
Comedy · 1999
On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his problem, Cameron singles out the only guy who could possibly be a match for Kat: a mysterious bad boy with a nasty reputation of his own.
Geography Club
Comedy · 2013
A coming-of-age movie that tells a story unfolding in every high school around the country -- a story of kids hiding their true identities in plain sight, even as they feverishly pursue their hearts' desires.
Moxie
Comedy · 2021
Inspired by her mom's rebellious past and a confident new friend, a shy 16-year-old publishes an anonymous zine calling out sexism at her school.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Amy Heckerling
Written by
Cameron Crowe
Sean Penn
Jeff Spicoli
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Stacy Hamilton
Judge Reinhold
Brad Hamilton
Phoebe Cates
Linda Barrett
Brian Backer
Mark "Rat" Ratner
Robert Romanus
Mike Damone
Ray Walston
Mr. Hand
Court is in session
Put Fast Times at Ridgemont High on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.