Kely Christmas Honestly, this movie is not that bad. If I'm being honest with myself, there are some specific moments in this movie that I will never forget-- ever. The soundtrack was amazing and it just created this intense atmosphere of nostalgia-- I will never forget it; it kind of even hurts to know I finished the movie. They did such a wonderful job with the music and how they set up the scenes. And the editing, or the cinematography was amazing, just so hazy that you never truly take it in until the scenes are finished.However, casting was a little weird-- Josh Peck and Method Man's exaggerated Jamaican character, almost like a caricature. I was totally uncomfortable with Peck, mostly in the beginning because by the end you're just so used to his tacky New York accent that you just don't care anymore. Furthermore, this movie felt like it was really missing something. I left the movie feeling really disappointed-- yeah, the nostalgia was intense and the vibes were great, but where's that feeling that you get after a good movie? Where is that feeling of satisfaction? I felt like an entire scene was missing, but I just don't know what-- catharsis with his parents? Understanding about himself? I feel like we left and the characters had just merely began to grow? Also, there seems to be this giant hole that they throw the audience into. You feel insanely sad and disappointed when you watch this movie even to the end. There are moments where you're moving your feet very softly to "Summertime" and then there are moments where you just feel bad-- mostly bad. You mostly feel really bad when you watch this movie, Peck's character: Luke goes through some of the most saddest things. It's not so sad that it warrants the movie to be bad, but it's so sad that you feel like the movie never truly picks up. You feel down for him and Kingsley's character most of the time. And yet, you never really feel all that happy for them when it ends, because they're still messed and tortured souls. It sounds cheesy, but the ending, or maybe just the whole movie, was missing something. You feel like the characters learned what they needed to learn, but it had been done so...ambiguously. Have they truly learned about embracing "the wackness"? Have they truly learned about love? Have they? No, not really. Luke has yet to understand love, Dr. Squires has yet to learn about his deep seated problems. It seems like development was just cut too short or just not really all there. It was missing something; I think you'll understand when you watch it-- which you should, it's a nostalgic inducing film that promotes a good, but very, very, very subtle message underneath all of the ridiculous sex riddled scenes and sex riddled conversations.Just give it a watch and see if you agree.

Steve Pulaski The Wackness is anything but wack. Our protagonist is the coolest kid on the block, as he deals enough weed to supply a month's Woodstock and becomes attached to his psychiatrist whom is also a customer of his. This is a very artsy indie film that can be listed under drama, melodrama, comedy, quirky, witty, and even coming of age.Josh Peck, the once chubby Drake & Josh star, has now evened out and is all grown up as he drops frequent f-bombs and drifted from his Nickelodeon character as far as possible. He plays Luke Shapiro, an outcast in 1994 New York City, who sells marijuana to the town to support his financially challenged family. His counselor he frequents named Dr. Jeffery Squires (Kingsley) is a soft-spoken pothead who gives Luke the oddball advice, and doesn't follow the counselor handbook very well. Luke becomes attracted to Stephanie (Thrilby) who he learns is Dr. Squires' stepdaughter. The two start hanging out, sharing secrets, and well, connecting.Luke enjoys making mixtapes on the outdated, but retro audio cassettes for his counselor and Stephanie. The music, which is composed of mainly Nas, Notorious B.I.G., and Wu Tang Clan hip hop songs, is a huge part of The Wackness. The music sort of parallels with the film because many of the songs "speak" to the film and explain what it doesn't, if that makes any sense.Ben Kingsley and Josh Peck could very well be one of the best duos in any film released in 2008. Their chemistry is formed from drugs and each other's unique way of giving advice. Luke's sense of love and compassion for others is formed from Stephanie's way of broadening his horizons to the world of attraction.Right off the bat, Luke acts like the "everythings-cool-don't-mind-me-homeboy" kind of kid, when really, he is shy and just as scared as we all are of the world. Still, he never comes off as ignorant or heartless in the film. He is one of the few protagonists I really rooted for by the end of the film. And I doubt it was because I was a fan of the Nickelodeon show Josh Peck was apart of.The Wackness is definitely an art-house film, but it shouldn't have been. It should've been released way more mainstream. It is one of the most important coming of age films next to 2010's Flipped. It's like a sponge-cake where the cake is made up of serious drama, and the icing is made up of quirkiness. Word.Starring: Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Olivia Thrilby, Famke Janssen, Method Man, and Mary-Kate Olsen. Directed by: Jonathan Levine.

jacob lamson The Wackness does not have a particularly inventive plot. It does not feature any exciting special effect, but what this movie does have is a whole lot of heart, and two stellar performances to illuminate that. A lonely dope dealer is not the first person you would expect to sympathize with. Nor is a drug addicted psychologist, completely ignorant to his own advice, but through the portrayals of these characters by a couple of talented actors, and a brilliant script, I found myself feeling deeply for each of these men. Luke Shapiro was one of the most well crafted characters to grace the screen in ages. He is lonely, and very well meaning but also very rough around the edges. I am a HUGE fan of Josh peck, I thought he played comedy very well in the children's sketch comedy series The Amanda Show. I thought he was very charismatic as the geeky chubby kid in Drake and Josh. Also, his performance as George the bully in the incredible movie Mean Creek is one of my favorites. The way he brings Luke to life is great and shows his acting versatility. I felt with Luke as he had his heart ripped into. I felt his anger as he watched his household falling apart.Dr. Squires is a bit harder to feel for, as he is ignorant, unfaithful, and immature, but through his deep friendship with Luke, you begin to love him as well. Now for the big one, the soundtrack. The story could have taken place at any point in time, for it is a fairly basic and universal tale, but he chose the mid eighties, highlighting the uprising of rap and hip hop music through Luke's mixed tapes, perfectly complimenting the setting and situations. Overall, I think this is a great piece of cinema. While not bringing anything new to the table, so to speak, it is executed with great heart and emotion. I loved The Wackness!

gavin6942 Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) is a drug dealer who exchanges marijuana with his therapist (Ben Kingsley) for sessions. Life is simple but good, until two conflicts emerge: the family home may be foreclosed on, and Luke is falling for the therapist's step-daughter. Are you ready for some young adult drama? The film's title, and the outlook of the film in general, is explained by character Stephanie: "Know what your problem is, Shapiro? It's that you just have this really shitty way of looking at things, ya know? I don't have that problem. I just look at the dopeness. But you, it's like you just look at the wackness, ya know?" But for me, the film didn't leave much room for anything to be seen besides the wackness. I liked Mary-Kate Olsen, essentially playing herself. Kingsley was an enjoyable character. And having gone through heartbreak, I could identify to a point with Luke. But overall, it didn't really hit home for me the way it apparently did for the Sundance crowd.Or the critics, as it turns out. Roger Ebert gave the movie 3 out of 4 stars and a positive review escaped the fingertips of Peter Travers, collecting 2.5 out of 4 stars. Ben Kingsley's performance earned him a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actor. All three of these seem misplaced -- this is not a three star movie, and if anyone deserves blame, it is not Kingsley.Feel free to watch this. You may like it more than I did. I would give it a second chance, because I want to believe there is more going on than what I saw. But then, when your film is called "The Wackness", maybe I shouldn't be expecting so much.