This story takes place in a small California town in 1942 and concentrates on two teenage boys, Henry (Sean Penn) and Niky (Nicolas Cage), and their girlfriends and family in the weeks prior to their joining the war effort. Many lighthearted scenes are interwoven with some serious ones. For viewers of a certain age this movie will evoke much nostalgia. Whoever produced the look and feel of the era got it just about right and, no matter your age, that should be appreciated. I particularly liked the recreation of a bowling alley of the time before automatic pinsetters, when surly pin boys would confront bowlers who did not respect the rules of etiquette. A period locomotive plays a central role in several scenes-- it is a gateway between the town and the outside world and reminds us that the boys will be taken from their youthful concerns to life-changing experiences in faraway places.As are many close friendships between two men, one is the more serious (Henry) and the other is a little reckless and wild (Niky). I thought Sean Penn did well in giving Henry an authenticity that is rarely granted to teenage characters in movies. Henry is not a delinquent nor is he a straight arrow, he is a young man dealing with the normal issues of coming of age in a difficult time. I particularly liked Henry's relationship with his family that allowed his parents to be seen as sincere relatable adults rather clueless bumblers. Nicolas Cage sparkles as Niky and Elizabeth McGovern is the perfect 1940s beauty as Henry's love interest Caddie. The casting director should be congratulated.There is an abortion scene that is character-revealing and makes a strong case for the value of the Roe vs. Wade decision.Some scenes seemed too scripted for humorous or dramatic effect, like the pool hustling scene and the scene where Caddie, who has never played the piano, is able to quickly pick up playing to accompany a surprisingly competent Henry on a piece.Well filmed, often engaging, this is worth seeing.

This movie was filmed in and around Mendicino, California. Beautiful part of the States. We had the good fortune of spending a long weekend there just a few years after this movie was made, when the area still looked the same. It brought back good memories.Sean Penn carries this movie as Henry, the fairly serious young man about to complete high school. One day his eye is caught by a new girl in town, the pretty Caddie (Elizabeth McGovern), whom he watches from afar, as she works at the movie house ticket booth, occasionally paying a young boy a few cents to deliver a simple flower to her. This is a "coming of age" story of these boys and girls. There appears to be good "chemistry" between Penn and McGovern, and in fact they became engaged as a result of making this movie together.Note: The DVD package says this is a "PG" movie, but there is some off-color language and a scene with brief male and female nudity. It didn't bother me at all, but it seems that PG-13 would be more appropriate.SPOILERS: One evening late, after the ticket booth closed, Caddie came across the street for a piece of pie, which Henry sold her even though he didn't work there. Then he followed her home, by jumping onto the outside of the bus (he was experienced, having jumped on moving trains many times, for fun). He discovers that she lives in a very nice estate, assumes she is of a wealthy family, refers to her as a "gatsby". But her mother is the maid for the wealthy family.Regardless, Henry and Caddie become close, fall in love. She finds out he is an accomplished pianist. "How did you learn to play so well?" he responds simply, "Lessons." His mother wanted him to be in Carnegie Hall, but he had no interest.Nicolas Cage is Henry's irresponsible sidekick, gets his girl pregnant, they seek an abortion. In an interesting casting, Crispin Glover plays a "Gatsby Boy", who taunts Henry by throwing his bowling ball before Henry, the pinsetter, gets his feet up and out of harm's way. So Henry runs over and punches him. This was a couple of years before Glover was George McFly in "Back to the Future."

I think this movie was one of the best romance movies I have ever seen!!! to me, this was way better than Titanic,etc. I think this movie would even be better if it had a sequel to it. Like it starting off showing them in the war and what they experience. Then they should show them coming home and what happens with Hop and his girlfriend, like if they get married or not. I love this movie, Sean Penn and Nicholas Cage were awesome in this movie, you couldn't have asked for 2 better actors. Also, if there's not a novel already published, I think they should have one. I think one of the very low points of this movie was that it had so much cursing, it could have made a good family movie if it didn't have that in it. Also the nudity was just not necessary. Basically that movie was totally ruined because of those two things.

Not a great film, but worth seeing for the budding romance between Penn and McGovern. They make a very credible couple. I expected more chemistry between Penn and Cage, they are both, after all, Fast Times alums! But the script doesn't give them a lot together. Mainly watchable for a pleasant afternoon watching Penn do a nice guy role for one of the few times in his career.