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Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Mary-Kate Olsen ... see more see more... , Jane Adams (II) , Method Man , Aaron Yoo , Talia Balsam , David Wohl , Bob Dishy , Joanna Merlin , Shannon Briggs , Roy Milton Davis

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... read more read more... 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. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

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72% liked it

23,906 ratings

Critics

69% liked it

127 critics

R, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Levine

Release Date: July 3, 2008

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DVD Release Date: January 6, 2009

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Stats: 2,637 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,637)

  • cosmo313
    August 18, 2011
    cosmo313
    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 in... read morecludes 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.
  • fb100001050230219
    August 12, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    With a great script, interesting characters and excellent performances all round, ''The Wackness'' is a very sweet, uplifting coming-of-age dramedy.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    June 19, 2011
    LoughnerWasLucid
    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 ... read moreto Olsen Twin #1 in every way, i guess the same goes for her too.
  • MrMarakai
    January 21, 2011
    MrMarakai
    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... read more 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.
  • romy861
    January 3, 2011
    romy861
    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 ... read moreit 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.
  • gor41
    November 6, 2010
    gor41
    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 wh... read moreo hangs out with a kid, no problem.
  • lewiskendell
    April 28, 2010
    lewiskendell
    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 int... read moreeresting 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.
  • aliceinpunderland
    January 25, 2010
    aliceinpunderland
    I was expecting a half-baked stoner comedy unworthy of H&K, 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 ... read moreof 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.
  • fb733768972
    January 13, 2010
    fb733768972
    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!
  • dreamfaeries
    August 23, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    Call me crazy, like all the characters in this movie, but I really liked this film. : )

View All The Wackness Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
August 1, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

That first sight of Ben Kingsley sucking down a bowl will burn into your memory. You may be watching The Wackness but it's hard to forget that this is Gandhi putting Bic to bong in Jonathan Levine's s... Full Review

Amy Biancolli
July 25, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

On the downside: There is a wackness to The Wackness, a saggy psychic undertow that drags down its lighter and smarter aspects. Full Review

Tom Long
July 25, 2008
Tom Long, Detroit News

The Wackness, for all its eccentricities and emotional pain, is really a sweet little film. Full Review

J. R. Jones
July 24, 2008
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

The characters are sympathetically drawn and the modest wisdom rings true. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
July 17, 2008
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

Levine, who wrote the film as well as directed it, re-creates 1994 with the painstaking detail usually reserved for period pieces and costume dramas. Full Review

Richard Roeper
July 14, 2008
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

A minor triumph.

Mick LaSalle
July 11, 2008
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

When The Wackness is good, it's good, and when it fails, it's still clear what Levine was trying to do. Someday he'll probably be able to do it. Full Review

Colin Covert
July 11, 2008
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

A generous-spirited study of characters in pain. Full Review

Liam Lacey
July 11, 2008
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

For all of Kingsley's hamming, he can't overshadow Peck's mournful performance. Nor can you forget the film's reminder that the cruellest thing you can say to a teenager is that these are the best yea... Full Review

Ty Burr
July 11, 2008
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Man, have we been here before. Full Review

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The Wackness Trivia

  • Which actor starred in Drake & Josh in New York! Mean creek Drillbit Taylor and The Wackness   Answer »
  • Give the title of a movie directed by Jonathan Levine, with Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen & Mary-Kate Olsen about a teenager spending his last summer before university selling marijuana in New York City.  Answer »
  • Who was Luke's therapist in The Wackness ?  Answer »
  • Who does Luke have a crush on in The Wackness ?  Answer »
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