If not for the 70s cultural references (I grew up in the Valley in the 60s-'70s and recognized Portola Middle School, where the opening scenes were filmed), I would have liked it a lot less. I thought it was disconnected and unrealistic. For example, why didn't Gary ever go to class, except on picture day? How could he run businesses at 15, when hecshould have been in school? Why did the police arrest, then release, him without telling him the reason for either? Finally, Joel Wachs didn't come out until 1999.