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The Wackness (15)
The Pitch
Set in New York in 1994 when hip-hop was at its height and the mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, had just begun his mission to clean up the streets, Luke Shapiro is a troubled teen (and neighbourhood drug dealer) who strikes up an unlikely friendship with his psychiatrist, Dr. Jeffrey Squires. Trading weed for therapy lessons the pair attempt to beat the blues with a journey through the city in search of sex. In the process Luke falls for Dr. Squires’ step daughter Stephanie, leading to a summer romance that will ultimately change him.
The Talent
The gorgeous Josh Peck (of Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh) plays angst ridden Luke, whilst Olivia Thirlby (best known for her supporting role in Juno) is fantastic as super cool seductress Stephanie. Both star alongside Hollywood A-listers Sir Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen and Mary-Kate Olsen.
The Verdict
Newcomer writer/director Jonathan Levine presents an excellent coming-of-age tale with The Wackness. Luke’s fantasy sequences give realistic insight into the mind of a teen boy and emphasise the need for occasional escape from everyday life. Whilst we weren’t that impressed with the secondary characters (stick to posing with your Starbucks Mary-Kate!) the main three protagonists – Squires, Luke and Stephanie are extremely relatable and well thought out. The overall look of the film provides a beautiful vintage feel, which contrasts with the gritty narrative, and the soundtrack will have you reaching for your older brother’s 90s classics!
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