"The Wackness", set in 1994, centers on a troubled teenage drug dealer and a drug-addled psychiatrist -- after the former trades pot for therapy sessions, then falls for the doctor's daughter.
The dullness
Totally boring, weak storyline and never seemed to take off
Wackness, The A drug-dealing teenager and a mid-life crisis-stricken therapist set out on a journey of self-discovery and sexual adventure in 1990s New York City. Ben Kingsley stars
Set in New York City in the summer of 1994, The Wackness follows the post-graduation tribulations of Luke Shapiro (Peck), a small-time drug dealer who finishes school only to realise that he has no idea of what to do for the next six weeks, let alone the rest of his life. His closest confidant is Dr Squires (Kingsley), a psychotherapist who trades him therapy sessions for weed. As the summer unfolds the two strike up an unlikely friendship, united by their common goal of finding sex and ...
An evocative tale of adolescence
Beneath the surface of good looks (among them the beguiling Olivia Thirlby and still-fabulous Famke Janssen) and comedic appeal, this movie reveals a sensitively filmed, bittersweet tale of adolescence and a nostalgic look at 1990s New York. The unlikely relationship between protagonist Luke Shapiro and his shrink, Dr Squires, played to perfection by Ben Kingsley, is central to the film, which also tells the story of sexual exploration and the conflicts of adulthood. The characters are what make this film, as well as the sometimes hilarious moments, particularly between Luke and Dr Squires, as each attempt to come to terms with their inner agonies and the coming of age.
Set in New York City in the summer of 1994, The Wackness follows the post-graduation tribulations of Luke Shapiro (Peck), a small-time drug dealer who finishes school only to realise that he has no idea of what to do for the next six weeks, let alone the rest of his life. His closest confidant is Dr Squires (Kingsley), a psychotherapist who trades him therapy sessions for weed. As the summer unfolds the two strike up an unlikely friendship, united by their common goal of finding sex and happiness.
Their friendship isn't the only unlikely conceit in this overwhelmingly nostalgic film. Luke is a fairly prolific drug dealer working on the streets, and yet there's n...