MovieChat Forums > Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Discussion > Could they pass for teenagers?

Could they pass for teenagers?

posted 7 years ago by wrs6565
15 replies | jump to latest

Sean Penn (turned 22 the year the film came out) - Maybe. Just barely. Certainly he projects the immaturity of a California surf teen.

Jennifer Jason Leigh (19) - Definitely and easily. Hell, she could easily pass for 15, probably not 14 though.

Judge Reinhold (25) - Absolutely not. I don't even think they really needed to have this guy still be in school in the movie, he could have been doing fast food full time.

Phoebe Cates (19) - I suppose so, I'm stunned she was actually only 18-19, she looked older (and someone on the set apparently mumbled something like "She's actually pretty talented for a model!")

Robert Romanus (26) - GOD NO. Way, way, WAY too old. Hell, he looked too old for COLLEGE. Had it not been for Buddy Repperton in Christine the following year (or possibly Don Dawson in Dazed and Confused), he would be the oldest looking high schooler I've ever seen!

Brian Backer (26) - Certainly. In fact, it's stunning he was born the same year as Robert Romanus. Then again, he is playing the movie's "wuss."

Scott Thomson (28 or 25 depending on where you look) - No way; in fact, I forgot this guy is even supposed to be a teen in the movie. As with Brad maybe he should have been college age and just working the fast food job.

Amanda Wyss (22) - I guess. Again, she and Brad Hamilton come across like college students.

Forest Whitaker (21) - I suppose so. Not much to say about him. The kid playing his little brother was a laugh riot.

Anthony Edwards and Eric Stoltz (20 and 22) - Sure. Weirdly enough Stoltz barely looks in this movie like he would when he was shooting Back To The Future.

Nicolas Cage (18) - I'm sorry, "Nicolas Coppola." He passes, but Cage always weirdly looked older than he was. In fact, he's had that receding hairline for so long I'm surprised he wasn't 50 a long time ago. Note also that FTARH has aged far better than Cage's own teen flick, Valley Girl.

The blonde cheerleader - Don't know how old she was but she passes.

The Pat Benatar lookalike - She looked a little too old.

[–] justanicknamed 7 years ago

When did you first see the movie? I saw it on cable in the mid 80's and didn't question their ages.

Same thing with Ferris Buehler's Day off.

[–] wrs6565 7 years ago

Probably around 1993. I used to hate it aside from Spicoli. I checked it out again about 15 years later on DVD and actually really loved it, just as a time capsule of the Atari era. I love the songs, too. Good old California power pop.

Alan Ruck was 29-30 in FBDO.

[–] justanicknamed 7 years ago

I think when you are out of the era when it is released, the ages look different. No one questioned Ruck or Broderick being so much older in FBDO and no one questioned the ages in Fast Times when it came out.

Same thing with Grease. No one questioned the ages of the actors even though many were pushing 30.

[–] jtrip-45023 7 years ago

"When did you first see the movie? I saw it on cable in the mid 80's and didn't question their ages."

Same here. I think I was a freshman in high school when I saw it on cable in the 80's. I didn't questions their ages. I just assumed that most were juniors and seniors.

[–] robocop-37224 7 years ago

No one questioned their age back then. And I could care less who looks younger but is older and vice versa. I'm guessing This must only be bothering you cause of all of the research you did. You might want to start getting out more.

[–] wrs6565 7 years ago

I get out plenty, I just like some movies a lot. Geez. It wasn't "bothering" me either, just a silly pop culture observation.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 7 years ago

I couldn't have cared any less about the actor's ages. I loved this movie from the first time I saw it. Seen it several times since and I always find something more to like.

[–] modica (4169) 3 years ago

Never thought about it when I first saw it back in the 80's.

[–] timmytony80 7 years ago

"ERIC STOLTZ in BACK TO THE FUTURE"?!

[–] crockett_john 7 years ago

Yep, I only found out about that a year or two ago. I guess Stoltz was cast and they started filming, but the director didn't like the way it was going, so he scrapped it and started over again with Michael J. Fox (or something like that).

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You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.

[–] HelpMeRhonda (1155) 5 years ago

Watching it last night, I thought Reinhold and Amanda Wyss looked too old, but I just tried to remember they were seniors and left it at that. Robert Romanus on the other hand, he looked 17 in some shots, and 26 in others. At least they all did a fine job acting like they were teens.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Actors in their late teens/early twenties playing HS students is far from unusual.

Other movies have used even older actors, some in their thirties (stockard channing in Grease). The ages of the actors in Fast Times is not surprising at all.

[–] modica (4169) 3 years ago

The blonde cheerleader was 16 or 17 at the time. She passses. Her name is Kelly Moroney.

[–] liscarkat (16515) 6 months ago

The only one who stood out for me was Thomson, who looked almost middle-aged. I had no problem accepting Romanus or Reinhold. Leigh was nineteen, but passed easily for fifteen, and in one lingering shot looked about twelve. Thinking back, Whitaker seemed too old. But at that time, and in earlier decades, most teenagers had a more mature demeanor than those of today. Take a look at high school yearbooks from the '40s, '50s, and '60s--many of the kids look more like they should be teachers.

[–] mnphotoguy99 (413) 6 months ago

I agree with most of your analysis but will argue with your Don Dawson (Dazed and Confused) comment. I was completing my junior year in high school in 1976, just like many of the main characters in Dazed. I had a friend/classmate who I swear could have played the Don Dawson role. He looked like him. Was a stud football player like him. Wore overalls like Don (it was 1976). I swear they could have been twins….and my friend was only 17 and finishing his junior year just like Don. I will admit that he was quite a bit more mature looking than most of us. :)