Sean Penn is perfect as the pot-smoking space cadet who has beenstoned since the third grade. In addition to Leigh's work, however, there are some other goodperformances.
#Red mountain expresso movie
But for the most part this movie justexploits its performers by trying to walk a tightrope between comedy andsexploitation. I suppose that's Heckerling paying dues to somemisconception of the women's movement. Itclunks to a halt now and then for some heartfelt, badly handled material aboutpregnancy and abortion. Itwas directed by a woman, Amy Heckerling - and it's sexist all the same. If this movie had been directed by a man, I'd call it sexist. Whateverhappened to upbeat sex? Whatever happened to love and lust and romance, andscenes where good-looking kids had a little joy and excitement in life, insteadof all this grungy downbeat humiliation? Why does someone as pretty as Leighhave to have her nudity exploited in shots where the only point is to show herill-at-ease? And then hersexual experiences all turn out to have an unnecessary element of realism, sothat we have to see her humiliated, disappointed, and embarrassed. She's curious about sex, so the script immediately turns herinto a promiscuous sex machine who will go to bed with anybody. Leigh, for example, plays a virginal young student atRidgemont High. The movie's cast struggles valiantly through all this dreck.Rarely have I seen so many attractive young performers invited to appear in somany unattractive scenes. There's a differencebetween raunchiness and gynecological detail. But during ascene involving some extremely frank talk about certain popular methods ofsexual behavior, even the rock fans were grossed out. I went to a sneak preview thrown by arock radio station, and the audience had come for a good time. This movie is so raunchy, however,that the audience can't quite believe it. The movie's another one of those adolescent sex romps, such as" Porky's" and "Animal House," in which part of the humorcomes from raunchy situations and dialogue.