The Wackness (2008)

Sony Pictures Classics' 'The Wackness'
Sony Pictures Classics
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details
Rating: R
Release Date: Jul 3, 2008
Running Time: 110 mins.
Country Of Origin: United States
synopsis
It’s the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip hop and wafting with the sweet aroma of marijuana. The newly-inaugurated mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, is only beginning to implement his anti-fun initiatives against “crimes” like noisy portable radio, graffiti and public drunkenness. Two people, however, are missing out on the excitement: Luke is a socially uncomfortable teenage pot dealer with no friends, issues with his parents, and a colossal lack of confidence with girls. He trades weed for sessions with his therapist, Dr. Squires, whose much-younger wife is slipping away from him. Squires, a drug-addled shrink with a hairline retreating to the back of his neck and a state of mind slouching back to adolescence, is an unlikely role model--but the two of them forge a friendship based on a mutual need: getting laid. The intergenerational duo set off on a crawl that takes them all over New York, where they encounter several of Luke's "business associates,” including a Phish-following dreadlocked pixie, a New Wave, keyboard-playing one-hit-wonder, and Luke’s supplier. Luke has long had an aching crush on Dr. Squires' way-out-of-his league stepdaughter, Stephanie, and is stunned at his good luck when she returns his affections. Luke’s innocent first love experience with Stephanie becomes a life lesson that sets him on the pathway towards adulthood. And when Squires breaks down, it is up to the younger man to throw the older one a lifeline.
cast + crew
Director
Luke Shapiro
Dr. Squires
Mrs. Kristin Squires
Stephanie
Percy
Eleanor
Justin
Mrs. Shapiro
Mr. Shapiro
Screenplay
Producer
Producer
Producer
Co-Producer
reviews
Source
rating  PETER TRAVERS - June 25, 2008

File under "Sights I Never Expected to See": Mary-Kate Olsen macking on Sir Ben Kingsley. But there it is, just one of the wacked moments in the Audience Award winner at this year's Sundance. Call it an almost-there comedy with diverting compensations. Sir Ben is one. He's a hoot as Dr. Squires, a Manhattan shrink, circa 1994, who trades therapy to pot-dealing high schooler Luke (a terrific Josh Peck) for weed. His Rx for the kid: Get laid. The doc doesn't mean it should be his stepdaughter… Continued