The Wackness (2008)

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, Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) spends his last summer before college selling dope throughout New York City, trading it with his shrink (Ben Kingsley) for therapy, while crushing on his step-daughter (Olivia Thirlby). |

Plot Keywords:

New York

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:

110 min | USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Occupant Films

Quotes:

Stephanie: [to Luke, at the Fire Island beach:] I see the dopeness in everything, and you just see the wackness.

Movie Connections:

References Forrest Gump (1994)

Soundtrack:

Razorblades

I'm no nearer . . .

Stephanie: (to Luke, at the Fire Island beach: ) "I see the dopeness in everything, and you just see the wackness."

In 1994 I was totally away from the drug/sex scene: I was in teaching and doing TV 25's World Film Classics. That was it, so now I avidly watch retro films such as Wackness to bone up on that not-regrettably-blank part of my life. (The lack of cell phones alone is a pleasant recollection.)

Recent high-school grad Luke (Josh Peck) seeks the counsel of shrink Dr. Jeff Squires (Ben Kinglsey), who is almost as immature as his client, both seeking female comfort and the comfort of weed. As their friendship blossoms under mutual needs, their personal relationships are in warp-speed flux, virgin Luke with decidedly not virginal Jessica (Olivia Thirlby), Squires' step daughter, and Squires trying to save his marriage.

The rest of the film is the formulaic coming-of-age summer-after-graduation slide to college. Needless to say, Luke changes considerably although he never stops selling drugs. His fated romance with Stephanie is the most striking lesson he learns:

Luke Shapiro: Steph, just stop talking. Please just stop talking. But could you just stand there till I leave? Stephanie: Why? Luke Shapiro: I've never had my heart broken before.

Even more interesting than Luke's brushes with maturity and the law is Squires' consistently annoying invasion of the young people's world, most egregiously his making out with Mary-Kate Olsen. But Sir does it with uncharacteristic understatement, making his performance on a par with Luke's somnolent shuffle, but far superior in the craft of acting.

The production design is a seamless evocation of the era while the music adds the edge of the freewheeling nineties. Luke's dull-eyed, dopey mien has been played in such notable characters as Donny Darko and Napoleon Dynamite. In all those cases, I have felt the characters to be sweet and lovable, but I must say I'm no nearer to understanding their slackness any more than their wackness.