Far more dope than wack.
Released: 2008
Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Romance
With a title like "The Wackness," I honestly wasn't expecting a lot. The concept seemed interesting enough: a pot-dealing high school senior awkwardly stumbles his way through all sorts of teenage hardships, ranging from first love, to financial issues, to preparing for the rest of his life. Having lived through the '90s, I found it interesting that this coming-of-age journey chose 1994 as a historical backdrop. Unfortunately, besides a few choice slang terms flowing smoothly off the tongue of Josh Peck, there is little genuine nostalgia to be found, as most references feel somewhat forced and random. Luckily, this is only a minor drawback, as the movie's lamentable inability to work the era more naturally into the film is easily swept under the rug when the actors come alive. Most notable of all is Ben Kingsley, who tackles his role as a marijuana-addicted, burnt-out psychiatrist so sincerely and so grandly that there is no doubt as to why he was able to secure the titular role in 1982's powerful biopic "Gandhi." While Kingsley's part in "The Wackness" is the polar opposite of that in the Indian epic, his acting chops cannot be denied, as he lights up the screen with an erratic wildness, while also bringing a quiet sadness and subtle gentleness to his character. The chemistry between Peck and Kingsley is outstandingly charming and amusing, with the elder playing both best friend and emotional father as the younger takes on the world. There's something vaguely reminiscent of John Hughes here as Peck's character experiences, absorbs, and grows, and the adolescent haze that saturates this movie is actually quite pleasant, rather than angsty and melodramatic. While it's not quite da bomb, "The Wackness" is fresh enough to check out at least once - especially if you're looking for something chill to watch while hanging with your home skillets.
Rating (out of 5): 3.5
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