Review of The Wackness (2008) by Dane C — 26 Mar 2013

"The Wackness" is a perfect example of how a movie doesn't need to be popular and have a big budget to be absolutely brilliant. This is my all time favorite coming-of-age film.

Taking place in New York City in 1994, this film follows the life of Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), a recent high school graduate and drug dealer. Luke is a very conflicted young man, struggling to figure out who he is while dealing with a variety of issues. In exchange for therapy sessions, he trades marijuana to his psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley).

I don't have enough words to describe how incredible this film is. First and foremost, it captures the feeling of 1994 perfectly, incorporating many things from the time. The grittiness of New York City is demonstrated perfectly, with an amazing soundtrack that includes A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, and many others. The acting is outstanding all around. Josh Peck, who is popular from his Nickelodeon days, truly breaks out and shows that he is actually a very talented young actor. Ben Kingsley is absolutely phenomenal, but everyone already knows that. I love the cast and how perfectly they mesh together.

I can truly relate to this film and the things the main character experiences. This was the first movie I watched that gave me a true appreciation for lower budget and independent movies. I would probably place this film somewhere in my Top 20 all-time favorites. Something about "The Wackness" drags me in, and it's a film I will enjoy for the rest of my life. 5 stars.