The Wackness (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  The year is 1994, the place is New York City, and Luke Shapiro, having just graduated high school, tries to spend the summer figuring out what to do with his life, as well as how to deal with all of his various issues. Along the way, he makes his living dealing pot, which also… More
  The year is 1994, the place is New York City, and Luke Shapiro, having just graduated high school, tries to spend the summer figuring out what to do with his life, as well as how to deal with all of his various issues. Along the way, he makes his living dealing pot, which also includes trading some of his pot in exchange of clinical help from his psychiatrist Dr. Squires, who also happens to be his only real friend. Things get complicated when Luke starts up a relationship with his doctor's stepdaughter. This is both a coming of age drama (with occasional bits of comedy) and a love letter to the nostalgic days of the 90s. In fact, the film is not very subtle when it coems to reminding the audience that the film is set in 1994. This might be annoying to some, but I rather liked it, but I have a huge love for the 90s, so there. Musically, since this is an urban film, and because the main character is into hip hop, that's what the bulk of the soundtrack is, although there's some nice chestnuts from the 60s and 70s thrown in as well, so that's great. The characters aren't really the most admirable or worthy of being role models, and they aren't always totally likeable or sympathetic, but they are interesting, so that makes watchign a movie about them worthwhile. I couldn't completely relate to this film or the characters in every way, but I found enough similarities to make them somewhat more sympathetic. I liked the lead, but this is one of those movies that is owned by the suporting characters. This film's got an intersting cast, and they all do a pretty decent job (at the very least), especially Ben Kingsley- who really goes off the rails and is rather unrecognizable here as the therapist who is also a drugged out relic yearning for the good old days. Josh Peck is not bad as Luke, but I wasn't blown away by him. Olivia Thirlby, who I liked in Juno, is even better here, giving a sassy and hip performance as the stepdaughter/love interest. In smaller but memorable roles are Method Man as Luke's supplier and Mary-Kate Olsen as one of Luke's customers, a party girl who has a really memorable WTF scene with Sir Ben. Going back to the music for a sec, I think it's interesting to note that this is the second film that Olivia Thirlby has appeared in which features "All the Young Dudes" by Mott The Hoople. Odd. This is a good movie, but not great. It's adequate, but I give it slighly higher marks (admittedly) because I'm a fan of the time period, I like seeing dignified actors play way against type, but do so in dignified ways that don't seem forced. If a movie about angsty bored drug users in the 90s sounds like your type of thing, then give this a watch.

• Liam G

  
  With a great script, interesting characters and excellent performances all round, ''The Wackness'' is a very sweet, uplifting coming-of-age dramedy.

• Coxxie M

  
  Its 1994, mutha fuckas. thats an accurate summary of this film. hey, people. this movie is set in 1994. did you forget already? and Olsen Twin #2 proves that she is an embarrassment to every mammal, reptile, amphibian, plant, and mineral on this Earth. and since she is identical to… More
  Its 1994, mutha fuckas. thats an accurate summary of this film. hey, people. this movie is set in 1994. did you forget already? and Olsen Twin #2 proves that she is an embarrassment to every mammal, reptile, amphibian, plant, and mineral on this Earth. and since she is identical to Olsen Twin #1 in every way, i guess the same goes for her too.

• Mark W

  
  With chameleon-like versatility, Ben Kingsley went from peace-loving pacifist in "Gandhi" to intimidating pychopath in "Sexy Beast". Here, he finds a juicy role that slots somewhere inbetween. Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), is a small-time dealer who literally carts… More
  With chameleon-like versatility, Ben Kingsley went from peace-loving pacifist in "Gandhi" to intimidating pychopath in "Sexy Beast". Here, he finds a juicy role that slots somewhere inbetween. Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), is a small-time dealer who literally carts weed around in an ice-cream wagon. He thinks he's depressed; his therapist, Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley), thinks he just needs to get laid. Trouble is, the girl Luke's into is Squires' step-daughter Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby), a fact he keeps secret from his mentor. The movie follows the evolution of these relationships - Luke and Squires, Luke and Stephanie, and Squires and his cold wife (Famke Janssen). A fine little coming-of-age/rite-of-passage film that's elevated above the norm due to fine performances from the two leads. Peck perfectly captures the endearing, but dumb as a bag of hammers, nature of Luke. Director Jonathan Levine does well in keeping the 90's style flowing and nostalgic, with great use of hip-hop soundtrack but really this film is about one thing and one thing only...Ben Kingsley! Is this really Gandhi we are watching, sucking on bongs, smoking blunts and shagging one of the Olsen twins in a phone box? As it appears, yes it is, and it's fun to see Kingsley letting loose again and proving how good an actor he is. The problem is though, when he's not on screen the film suffers and becomes a tad tedious until he appears again. A decent effort by all involved but the material is nothing new and relies a little to heavily on Kingsley's eccentricity carrying it home.

• Nicki M

  
  Not really to my liking, but it is a good film and well done. I have to say hip hop (of which there is plenty all over this movie - anyone who loved it in the 90's - where this movie is set - will just love this movie, no question about it) and teen drug dealers don't… More
  Not really to my liking, but it is a good film and well done. I have to say hip hop (of which there is plenty all over this movie - anyone who loved it in the 90's - where this movie is set - will just love this movie, no question about it) and teen drug dealers don't really do it for me as themes, so that would be the reason I didn't fully warm to this, while having to acknowledge that it actually is quite good. I think under it all is the common theme of alienation and having screw ups for parents (although this poor girl, (OliviaThirlby), really has something to complain about - her parents are more infantile than she is, and one of them a paid shrink. Scary). The main character, Luke, (Josh Peck) is the aforementioned teen drug dealer, very well played and convincing. The small role of Mary Kate Olsen was of interest, although nothing mind blowing. The 90's setting was a nice distraction, although personally that variety of music was not for me, I did remember a few of the songs, however. I did enjoy the fashions in this. Overall whether you should see this or not depends on what you find interesting in a movie. If you like coming of age films in general and want something a little darker, maybe give it a go.

• Gordon A

  
  Could have gone horribly wrong with narcissistic preppy New Yorkers as its subject but stays just the right side of teeth grating thanks to a script full of rye observation and another great show from Kingsley - is their nothing this man can't do ! Drug addicted comedy shrink… More
  Could have gone horribly wrong with narcissistic preppy New Yorkers as its subject but stays just the right side of teeth grating thanks to a script full of rye observation and another great show from Kingsley - is their nothing this man can't do ! Drug addicted comedy shrink who hangs out with a kid, no problem.

• Lewis C

  
  The Wackness is a coming-of-age story set in New York City in the 90's, and features all the things that you would expect from this kind of movie - the ups and downs of a guy's first experience with love, family problems, etc. I liked it a lot at first, but it got a lot… More
  The Wackness is a coming-of-age story set in New York City in the 90's, and features all the things that you would expect from this kind of movie - the ups and downs of a guy's first experience with love, family problems, etc. I liked it a lot at first, but it got a lot less interesting for me towards the end. Things just started to bog down in a haze of drugs and self-reflection (especially the storyline of the psychiatrist). The Wackness had a good thing going, but couldn't quite manage to sustain it throughout the whole movie.

• Alice S

  
  I was expecting a half-baked stoner comedy unworthy of <i>H&K</i>, but I was pleasantly surprised! Josh Peck is mesmerizing as the sensitive drug dealer, Luke Shapiro. He makes Luke a likeable tragic hero despite how the words "sensitive drug dealer"… More
  I was expecting a half-baked stoner comedy unworthy of <i>H&K</i>, but I was pleasantly surprised! Josh Peck is mesmerizing as the sensitive drug dealer, Luke Shapiro. He makes Luke a likeable tragic hero despite how the words "sensitive drug dealer" already conjures up images of over-zany tripe. AND THE SONG!!! They played my song! I won't tell you what the song is in case you want to be surprised.

• KJ P

  
  Great! I thought it would be a very boring normal film with little heart, but when I decided to give it a chance, it proved me wrong! It ia a masterpiece!

• Leigh R

  
  Call me crazy, like all the characters in this movie, but I really liked this film. : )

• Mike S

  
  Do you remember when everyone walked around with pagers instead of cell phones? When rap artists like Kriss Kross and Notorious B.I.G. dominated the music charts? And when Nintendo 8-Bit was one of the coolest things you could own? Well, I sure do, and I remember that time with a big… More
  Do you remember when everyone walked around with pagers instead of cell phones? When rap artists like Kriss Kross and Notorious B.I.G. dominated the music charts? And when Nintendo 8-Bit was one of the coolest things you could own? Well, I sure do, and I remember that time with a big smile on my face. And obviously so does director Jonathan Levine. Because so perfectly has he captured the early 90's in this movie, that you find it to hard to believe it was made last year. In addition, it holds a very interesting story, following the life of a young and troubled drug dealer, living in New York. A plot that also happens to progress at an incredibly comfortable pace, without ever being dull or too slow. It's actually so mellow and relaxing, that I'd recommend it just for it's stress-relieving qualities. And if not that, then certainly for the great writing and sweet nostalgia.

• Luke B

  
  The Wackness is more concerned with "being" 1994 than it is having a decent story or being something new. Peck has already proved himself as one of the great actors of his generation, thanks to his brilliant role in Mean Creak. Here, his character is dull, but Peck injects… More
  The Wackness is more concerned with "being" 1994 than it is having a decent story or being something new. Peck has already proved himself as one of the great actors of his generation, thanks to his brilliant role in Mean Creak. Here, his character is dull, but Peck injects enough humanity and naturalism to warrant the film a watch. The whole, man wants to be boy and boy wants to be man, aspect is as subtle as a testicle crushing. It's a film based around a time period, but fails to say anything of relevance for now or then.

• Manu G

  
  I thought this movie was great and very touching and euphoric. It's the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip-hop and wafting with the sweet aroma of marijuana--but change is in the air. The newly-inaugurated mayor, Rudy Giuliani, is beginning to… More
  I thought this movie was great and very touching and euphoric. It's the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip-hop and wafting with the sweet aroma of marijuana--but change is in the air. The newly-inaugurated mayor, Rudy Giuliani, is beginning to implement his anti-fun initiatives against "crimes" like noisy portable radios, graffiti and public drunkenness. Set against this backdrop, Luke Shapiro spends his last summer before college selling dope throughout New York City, trading it with his shrink for therapy, while crushing on his step-daughter.

• Michael S

  
  THE WACKNESS is a film so determined to be quirky, hip, and fresh that it comes off as being dull and generic... but with a gimmick (first film to depict 90s culture in all it's glory)! Seriously though, I found the characters completely unlikeable (though Kingsley was enjoyable… More
  THE WACKNESS is a film so determined to be quirky, hip, and fresh that it comes off as being dull and generic... but with a gimmick (first film to depict 90s culture in all it's glory)! Seriously though, I found the characters completely unlikeable (though Kingsley was enjoyable to watch), the dialogue not so clever, and the pacing way to slow (it got boring, and I can appreciate a slow pace in film). The Only thing I really liked here was the soundtrack; because of IT I'll bump the score up an extra half star. A disappointment. (excuse the poor quality of this review [if evident]; while writting it, I just about fell asleep on my keyboard a few times. I'll remind myself next time to not write flixster reviews at 3:58 A.M! )

• Dan S

  
  An impressive film detailing a summer in New York in 1994. Ben Kingsley is a treat to watch here as a insecure shrink who is having a mid-life crisis. Josh Peck continues to show why he's one of the most promising up and coming young stars with his effective performance. The… More
  An impressive film detailing a summer in New York in 1994. Ben Kingsley is a treat to watch here as a insecure shrink who is having a mid-life crisis. Josh Peck continues to show why he's one of the most promising up and coming young stars with his effective performance. The soundtrack is another plus, implementing 90's hip-hop to complement the time-period, as well as capture the chill nature to what these characters are all about. This movie has a lot of things going for it, and there's a lot of interesting aspects located that not everyone will catch. A definite recommendation.

• Mark H

  
  Quirky indie character study about a naïve young drug dealer who begins dating a girl who also happens to be the daughter his psychiatrist. Ben Kinglsey plays Dr. Squires, a man who accepts pot in exchange for his sessions with the young boy. To say Dr. Squires is unethical, is an… More
  Quirky indie character study about a naïve young drug dealer who begins dating a girl who also happens to be the daughter his psychiatrist. Ben Kinglsey plays Dr. Squires, a man who accepts pot in exchange for his sessions with the young boy. To say Dr. Squires is unethical, is an understatement. Mentally he's an adolescent and the odd friendship he forms with his patient isn't particularly compelling or realistic.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Summer 1994. The girls were fly. The music was dope. And Luke was just trying to deal."</i> A psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley) is put into a moral quandary when a young drug dealer who's been supplying him with pot in exchange for clinical treatment ends up… More
  <i>"Summer 1994. The girls were fly. The music was dope. And Luke was just trying to deal."</i> A psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley) is put into a moral quandary when a young drug dealer who's been supplying him with pot in exchange for clinical treatment ends up dating his daughter in this comedy from All the Boys Love Mandy Lane's writer/director Jonathan Levine. Josh Peck, Famke Janssen, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Method Man co-star in the Occupant Films production. <b><u>Review</u></b> A movie that hit so close to home, The Wackness is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a hot, dreary summer in NYC of 1994. Every kid out there in some way can relate to Shapiro's dope summer of '94, from the parents always fighting to the steamy first love affair, you can't help but reminisce the things that defined your childhood and the memories that will stay with you forever. Every aspect of the film is remarkable. The directing is top notch, the writing, not a word was wasted and the acting was pretty impressive. Josh Peck, that kid from the Nickelodeon show made a complete 360 from cracking jokes to doing crack. That kid is going places I can tell you that. He took a big risk by doing the role and the payoff was grand. No more stupid humor and toilet jokes for this kid. Olivia Thirlby is delightful as the object of Luke's affection and Ben Kingsley, always the great actor transforms himself into a hippie therapist suffering in a mid-life crisis and well, its Ben Kingsley, an Oscar award winning actor and three-time nominee, need I say more? One notable aspect of the film is the excellent use of 90's music that defined the teen generation of that decade. All thanks to the film scorer of course, David Torn. Without him, The Wackness wouldn't be as memorable to the audience as it would have been. Ultimately, The Wackness is a character driven piece beautifully crafted by the director and showcasing some impressive acting by the cast most notably Kingsley and Peck. This film is a must-see.

• Drew S

  
  Uneven but generally watchable, The Wackness is a rough little charmer buried amidst the bigger hits of 2008. Its greatest asset is in a fantastic performance by Ben Kingsley in a really repetitive, unenlightening role - I've never been a huge fan of his "take whatever role… More
  Uneven but generally watchable, The Wackness is a rough little charmer buried amidst the bigger hits of 2008. Its greatest asset is in a fantastic performance by Ben Kingsley in a really repetitive, unenlightening role - I've never been a huge fan of his "take whatever role comes at me" approach to acting but he proves he can do a damn good job when he feels like it. Olivia Thirlby, further strengthening what should ideally be a breakout year for her, gives a sexy and assured turn as unchained firebrand Stephanie. Her work here is the exact opposite as her work in Snow Angels and she pulls both roles off seamlessly. I don't mean to discount Josh Peck's work but he's merely adequate; considering, however, that most of his visible training thus far has been in generic Nickolodeon swill, the performance is much better than it has a right to be. These actors are privileged to get economically-written, unforced, smart jokes to spit at each other. And if your heart beats for 90s hip hop, The Wackness will feel just right (I'm pretty ambivalent myself). It's all a shame that the film, ultimately, feels rather pointless because of its confused and largely unrealistic view of love and relationships. It is fatally myopic in asking us to side with the naive, obsessive Luke and unironically maligning Stephanie for just wanting a little summer fun. With both the knowledge that the relationship had a time limit and previous observations about Stephanie's character, Luke should very well have been wiser. Sure, he may not know much about women, but everyone knows that playing with fire will get you burnt. After all this, however, we're asked to sympathize with his "broken heart" as if Stephanie was a vicious black widow, not just a bored girl. And how awful is that ending? Poor Josh Peck could have been the best actor in the world and he still would have flopped, mindlessly screaming every thematic element the movie has to offer to no real effect. So all in all, The Wackness is just fun fluff that fails at reaching any sort of substance due to an incoherent message and repetitive moralizing. It's like a fun, clumsy, slightly obnoxious friend. Good in small doses but nothing special.

• Michael G

  
  The Wackness is a nice love letter to easier times but definitely has its flaws. Josh Peck seems to be channeling Jason Mewes at points and it tries really hard to convince you that it does indeed take place in 1994. Oh, and Mary-Kate Olsen was frightening. Other than that Ben… More
  The Wackness is a nice love letter to easier times but definitely has its flaws. Josh Peck seems to be channeling Jason Mewes at points and it tries really hard to convince you that it does indeed take place in 1994. Oh, and Mary-Kate Olsen was frightening. Other than that Ben Kingsley stole the show and the soundtrack was The Shit. Overall not a bad movie.

• Stefanie C

  
  the wack is dope. coming of age tale meets mid-life crisis bound by a budding friendship. ben kingsley as the quirky doctor is brilliant.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings