Sunday, March 10, 2013

The Wackness (2008) R - 3 Stars

A cute coming of age comedy about drugs, getting old and relationships. Kingsley is great in his role as a bored pot smoking therapist trying to keep his younger side alive. Peck is also great in his role as Luke, using his creative imagination selling drugs out of an ice cream cart, and Thirlby is gorgeous playing Luke's girl. Together they fill a void in each other while teaching themselves the meaning of life. Good sound track.

It's 1994 and Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), a teenage drug dealer, is working the summer streets of Manhattan, peddling drugs from his disguised ices cart. Along his journeys he meets Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley) who he trades drugs in exchange for therapy sessions. The two form an uncommon yet understood friendship where Dr. Squires encourages Luke to go after the girl he's been thinking about. But things get complicated when the girl Luke's after, turns out to be Dr. Squires step daughter, Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby).

Awards include:
2008 - The Wackness - Alliance of Women Film Journalists - Most Egregious Age Difference Between Leading Man and Love Interest
2008 - The Wackness - Sundance Film Festival - Audience Award

Occupant Films, LLC, Shapiro Levine Productions, SBK Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics
Director: Jonathan Levine
Writer: Jonathan Levine
Producers: Keith Calder, Joe Neurauter, Felipe Marino
I viewed 3/09

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