February 25, 2009

The Michigan Theater is pleased to present FAST TIMES AT THE MICHIGAN THEATER: COMING-OF-AGES COMEDIES, a series of movies that probe, often in outlandish fashion, the concept of growing up in America, EVERY Monday night in March. Showtime each night is 7:00 pm.

The series includes:
• March 2 ­ American Graffiti (1973): Based on George Lucas's own teenage hot-rodding days in Modesto, California, this brilliant, bittersweet comedy follows one night in the lives of several recently graduated high school students, as they prepares to leave for college. The film stars Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Richard Dreyfuss and Wolfman Jack along with an early screen appearance by Harrison Ford. (Rated PG. 110 min.)

• March 9 ­ Animal House (1978): Decadence, debauchery, and delinquency prevail at Delta House, the scourge of the fraternity system at Faber College in 1962. This outrageous, much-loved classic from director John Landis features the first major film role of the late, great John Belushi as the hard-partying, beer-guzzling champion of Delta house. Also starring: Tim Matheson, Tom Hulce and Robert Cray as a member of Otis Day & the Knights. (Rated R. 109 min.)

• March 16 ­ Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982): Amy Heckerling's adaptation of Cameron Crowe’s screenplay kick-started the careers of many actors, including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer and a young Sean Penn, as the stoned surfer dude. The film also includes brief appearances by such future stars as Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, and Forest Whitaker. (Rated R. 90 min.)

• March 23 ­ Dazed and Confused (1993): Set in suburban Texas in May 1976, an eclectic group of students - stone-heads, fraternal jocks, and snobby sorority girls--can't wait to haze the incoming freshman. Amidst this teenage wasteland of drugs, partying, and rock and roll is football star Pink (Jason London) and aging hang-about Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey). (Rated R. 102 min.)

• March 30 ­ Superbad (2007): Produced by Judd Apatow and co-written by Seth Rogen, SUPERBAD is the story of two teenage geeks looking to lose their virginity before college. The film stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, and Emma Hill as the object of their affections. A beer run goes awry when the police (played by Seth Rogen and Bill Hader) foil the plan. Watching these bungling outcasts is a vivid reminder of the horrific lows and supreme highs of high school life, and their antics rather poignantly capture how age 18 can indeed be super bad, but also super good. (Rated R. 114 min.)