Login
Originality of plot is always welcome in a time that multiplexes are overflowing with films that feature recycled storylines, and an original plot is exactly what The Wackness gives us; it's an examination of that weird time known as the summer between the end of high school and the start of college, and it's also set in 1994. In addition, our protagonist, Luke (Josh Peck), is a drug dealer, but believe it or not, that won't take away from the audience's ability to relate to the feelings of angst and confusion that he undergoes. In fact, one of the most interesting aspects of the film is that it doesn't at all condemn him for being a dealer (the only moment in which there's a glimmer of it is when he gets arrested, but the movie moves through that event pretty quickly, and it all turns out to be more of a comedic moment than anything else).
This film reminded me a bit of 2006's underrated Art School Confidential, as both movies are realistic portrayals of the emotional trials that young adults often have to deal with, and both films are, at times, slightly tarnished by scenes that are a bit too much on the grim side. However, the refusal to sugarcoat things is much appreciated in a film like this one.
I'd never even heard of Peck before, but the friend that I went to see the movie with told me that this is very different from what he did in the Nickelodeon TV show he starred in. He's impressive in terms of his acting, and his accent is dead-on. His older counterpart, veteran actor Ben Kingsley (as Jeffrey), is predictably good. This film is definitely more about the storyline between those two rather than the storyline between Luke and Jeffrey's stepdaughter, Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby). Thirlby's fine in her supporting work here, but she doesn't get a chance to display as much range as the other two.
Much like Art School Confidential, The Wackness is a good film but there are some missteps, such as the obligatory corny line that is used to integrate the film's title into the screenplay (which wasn't really a necessary thing to do). The movie also meanders a little awkwardly in the final act, particularly in the scenes in which Luke and Jeffrey go to the beach, even if it is a nice moment that gives a certain level of closure to the interactions they've had throughout the film. Nonetheless, this is a well-written drama that even has its share of humorous moments, and I imagine it'll probably resonate emotionally with a lot of people who are either currently experiencing or have already undergone this toilsome stage in the transition to adulthood. This movie's dope.
6/10
