The Wackness

Winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Melbourne Film Festival (2008), The Wackness is a thoroughly engaging comic drama with absurdist elements -....But it's not a film of belly laughs or broad comedic moments;....played immaculately by Famke Janssen.... ... Full Review

Set in New York City, during the summer of 1994, "The Wackness" tells the story of a young teen, Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), whose life is lacking direction. Unfortunately, the film almost focuses too heavily on it's overly silly 1994 plot conceit ... Full Review

The confident visual style fits perfectly for "The Wackness," which has a unique color palette and several unusual camera tricks....Despite the film's flaws, it's a promising debut.....Debut director Jonathan Levine deftly handles his talented cast....makes the center of "The Wackness" a bit too hollow.....The Wackness" is a near-miss with great supporting performances, interesting ideas, and promising direction..... ... Full Review

It's really a great DVD movie. The Wackness is on DVD for ownership and temporary ownership as of Tuesday, January 6th, and I have no idea how so much of this interview steered toward Josh Peck nude or topless. ... Full Review

The film, directed by Jonathan Levine, won the 2008 audience award at Sundance. ... Full Review

Not as exuberant as Raising Victor Vargas , not as extreme as Kids , and not as quirky as Harold and Maude , The Wackness wants us to love it in spite of its banality. A later scene on the beach with Luke and Dr. Squires confirms, unfortunately, that this might in fact be the case. ... Full Review

Too, too true, especially in nostalgic movies, with period soundtracks, hot summer nights, and boys coming of age.....This damning plot point works in two directions....As the two bereft males pursue their circuitous bonding, the film offers occasional pleasures, most premised on Peck's curious looks askance and restrained performance (up against a script full of overstatement)..... ... Full Review

Like James Franco's character in Pineapple Express, Josh Peck plays a drug dealer in The Wackness, a film far gentler and more insightful than its surface glibness implies. The Wackness is almost too quirky to be believed, and this Sundance sensation frequently treads towards the squishy ground of contrived characters with dialogue. ... Full Review

But I think, as you say, I think it's a well acted film. The Wackness has its charms but it has its unevenness too. DAVID: It does but as you say, Ben Kingsley is extraordinary. ... Full Review

Not so much because it won the audience best film award at the Sundance Film Festival, but because I was a high-school exchange student in The Big Apple around the same time where I, too, came of age. ... Full Review