Synopsis
Set in New York City in the sweltering summer, The Wackness tells the story of a troubled teenage drug dealer, who trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist. Things get more complicated when he falls for one of his classmates, who just happens to be the doctor's daughter. This is a coming-of-age story about sex, drugs, music and what it takes to be a man.
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Cast
- Josh PeckLuke Shapiro
- Ben KingsleyDr. Squires
- Famke JanssenKristin Squires
- Olivia ThirlbyStephanie
- Mary-Kate OlsenUnion
- Jane AdamsEleanor
- Method ManPercy
- Aaron YooJustin
- Talia BalsamMrs. Shapiro
- David WohlMr. Shapiro
Recommendations
- 83
Baltimore Sun
A funny, touching mood piece. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
A tightly packed entertainment. It explodes through familiar teen-transition territory with dark ironies, but, all the while, touches are sentiments. - 80
Film Threat
If you have ever experienced the crushing effect of young love, you owe it to yourself to check out this gem of a dark comedy. - 75
ReelViews
Not everything in The Wackness works and there are times when the divergent serious/comedic tones clash instead of complementing each other. However, in spite of its flaws, the production gets us to care about the characters and their situations. - 75
USA Today
Both darkly funny and life-affirming, in an offbeat and offhanded way. - 75
Chicago Sun-Times
What saves this movie, which won this year's audience award at Sundance, from being boring are performances by two actors who see a chance to go over the top and aren't worried about the fall on the other side. - 75
New York Post
Nostalgic for those bad old days, The Wackness was shot at a time when it actually looked like "America's Mayor" was going to be in a position to perform a similar cleanup on the entire country. That, of course, turned out to be a pipe dream. - 75
Philadelphia Inquirer
A smart comedy that serves as both bittersweet coming-of-age tale and '90s nostalgia piece, The Wackness has the feel of authenticity about it, even if some of its details (the ice cream cart, and the therapist's bong, for two) seem a bit much.
