Not sure how many of you are fans of this movie but it's always been one of my favorites from way back when. I'm sure a lot of you love it, also. Anyway, many stars participated in a table read of parts of this film script with Morgan Freeman providing the narration and other big name stars reading for main characters. The most noticeable actor-part pairing was Shia Labeouf as Jeff Spicoli. He was Zoom-ing his feed from his garage in his truck and was smoking a joint seemingly high off his ass. He wasn't even participating in discussion other than reading the Spicoli part and no other stars participating in the Zoom session even attempted to speak to him outside of the reading. Aside from being a stoned participant in the table read, I thought he pretty much butchered the part and I was not impressed. He did not nail any of the memorable lines and seemed to go off script at times. It was funny watching him smoke out at first but he pretty much screwed the pooch imo. I would have rather had Penn reading his iconic part again but all Penn did was play the pizza delivery guy delivering the pizza to Jeff in class. All the class room scenes with Mr. Hand and Spicoli came off as lame imo due primarily to Shia. The whole table read was semi-amusing as I tried to envision the movie scenes in my mind as they read through some of the memorable scenes. In the end, it came across as flat imo. Morgan Freeman pretty much saved the day with his iconic voice and narration throughout. I really wanted it to be way funnier than it turned out, though. I guess I was expecting them to be more like the characters but I found it difficult to recognize these iconic characters in their reading. There is no way the actual table read for the film was that bad or the film would have been canceled right then and there. But, Shia man. That dude is whack. His reading didn't cut it and it should have "made" the reading. If that is what stoned Shia gives you, then it's a hard pass from me. He seemed to be changing memorable lines while trying to be "in the moment". It wasn't funny. Article on table read: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shia-labeouf-fast-times-reading-high_n_5f64dcd8c5b6de79b674319e Actual table read: https://www.livexlive.com/video/9109cba4-5dcc-4548-9fff-4e913d2e0258 Enjoy...or not.
I heard about it and got excited to hear the Penn would be involved. But then decided not to watch when I found out he wouldn't be voicing Spicoli. I mean, what's the point of even having him involved if he's not reprising his iconic role? That would be like a Star Wars table read with James Earl Jones reading for one of the jawas.
Did my second link in my post above not work for you? Those saying Shia crushed it...yea...I don’t get it. I think they were just amused he was smoking pot and trying to be in the role. The line delivery is where he blew it imo. People are too easily pleased I guess.
Well said. I didn't watch the entire thing, but did watch a lot of it. Too right about Morgan Freeman. I was shocked at how he looked at first, but he killed it with his narration setting up the scenes. Looking at Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston made me jealous of their genes. Both looked terrific despite Brad being 56 and Jen an unbelievable 51. No way is that chick 51! I think both did a deal with the Devil and I don't believe in the Devil. The whole thing made me want to see "Fast Times" again for probably the 8th time.
Thanks for sharing it. I watched as much as I could bear while reading the actual script. IMO, the introductions were fun, Dane Cook was good as The Rat (but much too likable), Morgan Freeman killed it reading the screen directions, and Ray Liotta was fun to watch as Mr. Hand, but Shia's antics ruined it for me. Sure, he looked the part, but did he have to re-write his lines? I was ready to forgive him for his past behavior and watch Honey Boy, but it's going to be a while now.
As someone that's been more than a little horrified as of late staring at the aging stranger in the mirror, I couldn't help notice how Brad Pitt and Matthew McConahey (sp?) have aged. They're wrinkling and their hair is turning grey, but they're both so comfortable in their own skin. Spoiler I have to work on that.
