61
Metascore
21 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100New Times (L.A.)Luke Y. ThompsonNew Times (L.A.)Luke Y. ThompsonPerfectly capturing the zeitgeist of American high school life in the '80s, complete with a Rubik's cube reference, the funny and occasionally harsh Fast Times, with all due apologies to John Hughes and Mickey Rooney, may be the greatest teen movie ever made (even though Cates was the only real teen).
- 100Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenAustin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenAmy Heckerling’s portrait of high school/shopping mall life in Southern California is still just about as good as it gets...The panoply of teen types and turmoils is dead-on accurate.
- 90The A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThe A.V. ClubKeith PhippsA Trojan horse of a teen comedy that balanced lowbrow gags with subtle humor, genuine insight—Crowe spent a year undercover as a high-school student—and pathos.
- 80Film ThreatBrad LaidmanFilm ThreatBrad LaidmanSean Penn's scenes are still so stunning...His Jeff Spicoli is an unabashed kick every second he is on the screen.
- 75The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick GroenThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick GroenIf the publicity release can be believed, he worked an entire year "undercover as a student to research teenage life". On the basis of what surfaces here - one stock phrase (the kids say "Go for it]" a lot) and a multitude of stock characters - Crowe might better have spent the time curled up with re-runs of Ozzie and Harriet. Give this intrepid researcher 12 months at General Motors and he might just discover the wheel.
- 60VarietyVarietyThe nice thing is that Crowe and director Amy Heckerling have provided something pleasant to observe in all of these characters though they really are sadly lacking in anything gripping.
- 60TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineThe film's most memorable character is the perpetually stoned surfer played by Sean Penn. His confrontations with Mr. Hand (Walston), a draconian history teacher, provide the film's finest moments.
- 50The New York TimesJanet MaslinThe New York TimesJanet MaslinThere's a lot to make [Heckerling's] film likeable, but not much to hold it together.
- 50Wall Street JournalWall Street JournalAt least the film has a sense of humor and a degree of energy... [but the] film never carries any of its characters or situations much beyond weary cliche. [10 Sept 1982, p.29(E)]
- 30Washington PostRichard HarringtonWashington PostRichard HarringtonIt's an uninspired blend, integrating the boys from "Porky's" and the girls from "Foxes" into a vehicle resembling the worst of "American Graffiti" and the best of "Rock and Roll High School." [13 Aug 1982]