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 | Romance

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:

Summer | Marijuana | Pot | New York City | Stepdaughter

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Ben Kingsley	...	Dr. Jeffrey Squires
Josh Peck	...	Luke Shapiro
Famke Janssen	...	Kristin Squires
Olivia Thirlby	...	Stephanie
Mary-Kate Olsen	...	Union
Jane Adams	...	Eleanor
Method Man	...	Percy
Aaron Yoo	...	Justin
Talia Balsam	...	Mrs. Shapiro
David Wohl	...	Mr. Shapiro
Bob Dishy	...	Grandpa Shapiro
Joanna Merlin	...	Grandma Shapiro
Shannon Briggs	...	Bodyguard #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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | Norway:15 | Sweden:7 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | New Zealand:R18 | Singapore:R21 | Singapore:M18 (cut)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Occupant Films

Trivia:

The first song in the movie that Luke is listening to on his headphones is "The World Is Yours" which features the lyric: "I sip the Dom P, watchin' Gandhi 'til I'm charged." Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for portraying Gandhi (1982) in 1982.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The movie is set in 1994 but when Luke returns to find his family being evicted there is a current model BMW 7 series, E65/E66, turning the corner in the background. These have only been manufactured since 2002-2008.

Quotes:

Luke Shapiro: [on the phone] Peace out, forever!

Movie Connections:

References "Beverly Hills, 90210: U4EA (#2.15)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Can I Kick It?

A lovely film

I walked into this film with 0 expectations having received pre-screener passes from a local record store. This is a beautifully filmed true to life story which I felt held very deep meaning about the beauty that is the start and end of relationships. We follow the summer of two very different men in who are in very similar mindsets dealing with the personal crises, quiet pleasures, new experiences, and endless repetition that is life. This is a realistic and philosophical film that the label "comedy" does not do justice, but there are steady laughs throughout the film, especially for those of us who grew up in the 1990s. Only let-down was Mary-Kate Olsen, who I simply couldn't buy in her role, fortunately, it's a very small part.