The Wackness (2008)
The Wackness (USA) Directed by Jonathan Levine. Written by Jonathan Levine. Starring Josh Peck; Ben Kingsley; Olivia Thirlby; Famke Janssen; Method Man; Mary-Kate Olsen
Writer/Director Jonathan Levine brings forth this coming-of-age story set in the summer of 1994 in New York. Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) lives on the upper east side with bickering parents who are having serious financial issues. He graduates from high school and plans to attend college, but has myriad personal issues surrounding his own lack of success with girls, making friends, and general depression. One thing he does excel in is selling pot. His long list of customers includes middle-aged psychiatrist Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley), who is having his own troubles, including a loveless marriage to Kristen (an underutilized Famke Janssen). Luke begins opening up to Squires in the course of doing business, and eventually begins trading therapy for marijuana. Dr. Squires’s step-daughter, Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby) graduated in Luke’s class in high school, but she was part of the popular group, and the two barely know one another (although she has purchased pot from him). Due mostly to his visits to see the doctor, Luke and Stephanie strike up a friendship, and at the same time Luke and Squires begin to hang out. Nice evocation of recent history - care is taken to create a nostalgic feel through the camerawork and set design. Music plays a big part in this film. With his permanently attached headphones, Luke is immersed in hip hop, and the songs of A Tribe Called Quest; Wu Tang; Biggie; De LA Soul et al ring throughout. Kingsley is solid (although the accent goes in and out), as is Peck, playing disaffected and lost quite well, and always watchable Olivia Thirlby (Juno) will undoubtedly go on to a big career. Interesting support from Mary-Kate Olsen (in what amounts to a cameo) as hippie Union; and Method Man playing Jamaican drug dealer, Percy. Benefits from New York exteriors. This is obviously a personal story for Levine.