Hot Times at Montclair High

I am probably the most passionate person when it comes to teen movies - I absolutely love them. But this film flat out sucks! The dialogue is so clichéd and awkward, and the acting in general is quite poor. Again, I don't want to make generalisations about all the actors, as a couple (Troy Donahue and Jonathan Gorman to an extent) are actually passable in patches, but the film is a perfect example of the school of overacting. And what's with the dragging 3-minute music scene? Surely it could've been cut to 30 seconds... maybe it was a time filler, considering the film was barely 80 minutes.

My rating: 1/10 (the 1 is for the close-ups on Kim Anderson's bust!).

My take: Any aspiring screenwriters, watch this film... then walk away and completely do the opposite when penning your own piece. This film, if i serves for anything other than a sleeping pill as another gent alluded to, is the blueprint for how to NOT write and direct a film.

Mike

The title says it all. "Hot Times at Montclair High"? Is that the best they could do? Change the word "Fast" for "Hot", and come up with a different name for the school? This gives you an idea of this movie's level of creativity.

It feels episodic, but shouldn't. This is because there is no believable set-up for any of the things that happen in the movie, so everything feels disconnected, and you never come to know any of the "characters". The jock and the punk could've been in a better movie, but the nerd is so over-the-top that he makes the actors in Revenge of the Nerds look subtle. When characters are this much of a collection of clichés, it wears pretty thin when you have to see them on screen for most of the movie's runtime, and it certainly discredits the "serious" issues this one tries to bump up against, ala the Amy Heckerling movie it ripped its title off of.

Issues like child abuse, drug dealing/addiction, and sexual assault get short shrift, all dealt with in such a contrived, perfunctory way that you don't know or care what they're doing in the movie. Of course, there's also some raunch, including a scene with the nerdy characters spying on girls showering. "Ridgemont High" got away with sex and nudity because it dealt with these things in a realistic way, not just to satisfy the audience's need for boobs. They were used to service the plot, not to reveal that the "plot" was in bad need of servicing.

Hot Times At Monticlair High is a good teen comedy to watch.Reminds me of a better time in my life when i watch it.I also own the movie on DVD by the way.But like i was saying it was an all around great movie.So what the movie may not have any big names in it or a big movie budget but the point is the director did his best with what little he had.For one thing them actors in the movie was their first acting job they ever had so give them a break.What i really liked about the movie was the music.Not sure what the name of the band was or even if you could somehow buy the songs on CD.But i thought it was really that good.So go buy this movie on DVD you can find it at FYE store and watch it.Lot's of memories will come back to you trust me....

Roger Sandy,Utah

Why did they make films like this?Nobody watches them.It seems like there was some sort of competition on in the 80's to see who could make the worst teen comedy.Apart from a shower perving scene(now where have I seen that before?),this has no redeeming value at all.If you're looking for a way to get to sleep,you've just found it.

As a period piece of it's own time, I like the contrast between late 80s and early 80s Ridgemont high. Not as well made, much cheaper movie, but what surprised me was the music, it really helped this movie place itself in time. There's that hint of grunge that was stirring in the late 80s, and it's a good capture of that. Otherwise it's a predictability cheap ass shot at good comedy film. Doesn't really carry it's own weight in that regard, but the soundtrack is actually quite remarkable. Plus there's some hot chicks and the hairstyles are totally authentic 80s. So it has that to balance things out, like I said, as a period piece of it's own time.