The Wackness (2008)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Jonathan Levine

Writer (WGA):

Jonathan Levine (written by)

Release Date:

29 August 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Sometimes it's right to do the wrong things.

Plot:

It's the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip-hop. Set against this backdrop, a lonely teenager named Luke Shapiro spends his last summer before university selling marijuana throughout New York City, trading it with his unorthodox psychotherapist for treatment, while having a crush on his stepdaughter. |

Plot Keywords:

Heat | New York | Ritalin | Porno Movie | Underage Drinking

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Ben Kingsley	...	Dr. Squires
Famke Janssen	...	Kristin Squires
Josh Peck	...	Luke Shapiro
Olivia Thirlby	...	Stephanie
Mary-Kate Olsen	...	Union
Jane Adams	...	Elanor
Method Man	...	Percy
Aaron Yoo	...	Justin
Talia Balsam	...	Mrs. Shapiro
David Wohl	...	Mr. Shapiro
Bob Dishy	...	Grandpa Shapiro
Joanna Merlin	...	Grandma Shapiro
Shannon Briggs	...	Body Guard #1
Roy Milton Davis	...	Homeless Man
Alexander Flores	...	Kid in Bar

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive drug use, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

99 min | USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | Norway:15

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Occupant Films

Trivia:

The hat that Ben Kingsley wears was his own. He grabbed it when he set off to New York to film the movie, thinking it might be useful.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: An establishing shot of a Long Island Railroad train shows a train with model M-7 cars. The M-7 railcar was not introduced into service until 2002.

Quotes:

Dr. Squires: Sometimes it's right to do the wrong thing, and right now is one of those times.

Movie Connections:

References Forrest Gump (1994)

Soundtrack:

Sam Tek

wonderful. . . a must see. . . and, to quote my mother, "extraordinary"

This film was everything a movie should be. Great direction, acting, writing, and everything else! The acting was superb. Josh Peck really showed that not only is he a wonderful comical actor, but he is an incredible dramatic actor, as well. He was just perfect in this role, and he was able to carry the film with ease. Hopefully we will be seeing a whole lot more of this actor, for he has given the breakthrough performance of the year. Ben Kingsly was, as usual, great. He provides a comical character and creates a character so entertaining, you can't help but smile once he appears on screen. Olivia Thirlby worked very well as Peck's love interest, and Mary-Kate Olsen showed that she has the potential to break away from her child star mold and start a promising film career.

And while some reviews expressed that the use of 1994 (the year the film takes place in) and all the references to that time were annoying, I found them quite funny and enjoyed such references as mentions of a 90210 episode that I recently watched!

The story of a drug-dealing teen's relationship with his shrink/client and his relationship with the shrink's daughter is a truly enthralling one. It felt much shorter than is was and I hope to see it again soon! I loved everything about this film and hope that it becomes the independent film that makes it big this year, just as Juno did last year! It definitely deserves high praise!