18???

I saw this movie for the first time in years last week, and it had completely escaped my notice before that it is mentioned that the character is ONLY 18. When watching FD before, I assumed Jennifer Beals' character was in her twenties. Not only did she act a lot older than 18 (most of the time) in my opinion, but also, it seems very unlikely to me that an eighteen year old, who could only have left school a couple of years earlier, would have been able to save up enough money to renovate a warehouse, and to attend a first class ballet academy, and even though it is possible to get paid a fair amount working as a stripper, at her age she couldn't have been working as a stripper that long.

And let's not forget the fact that the man she gets involved with is around 40, and there seem to be no scruples on his side about the age gap (apart from a few jokes from Richie,there is no mention of it).

I know, for the purpose of her starting her advanced training as a ballet dancer, Alex would need to be 18, but when watching this movie now, it seems as though the filmakers have placed an adolescent in blatantly adult surroundings, and act as though she has been there for years!

I'm not saying that 18 year olds can not be very mature, and maybe this was the whole point the director was trying convey, but very rarely have I come across a teenager whom adults,people in their late twenties,thirties, etc, treat equally and ask them for advice(like the other strippers). Older teenagers or people in their early twenties treat them equally,but not actual adults. I've met many 20-25 year olds who ask 18 year olds for advice, but very rarely people much older than that. I know it does depend on th individual, and there are older people who are more immature than 18 year olds, so why wouldn't they ask them for advice? It is ignorant to suppose that they wouldn't,but it is VERY rare.

I love this movie though, I know it isn't meant to be taken that seriously, but I just thought I'd state my opinion!