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The Wackness
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The Wackness

2008
Comedy
Drama
1h 39m
It's the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip-hop. Set against this backdrop, Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) spends his last summer before college selling dope throughout New York City, trading it with his shrink (Ben Kingsley) for therapy, while crushing on his step-daughter (Olivia Thirlby). (imdb)
Directed by:
Jonathan Levine Jonathan Levine
Written by:
Jonathan Levine Jonathan Levine
Starring:
Method Man Method Man Famke Janssen Famke Janssen Jane Adams Jane Adams Ben Kingsley Ben Kingsley Josh Peck Josh Peck Mary-Kate Olsen Mary-Kate Olsen Talia Balsam Aaron Yoo Aaron Yoo Olivia Thirlby Olivia Thirlby
More
Genres:
Comedy, Drama
Country:
USA
Language:
English
imdb More information at IMDb
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The Wackness

2008
Comedy
Drama
1h 39m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 49.42% from 717 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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reubenitereubenite
Rated 28 Dec 2008
60
16th
Ben Kinglsey shines, the remaining cast members struggle to overcome their characters' uninterestingness and the script.
Rated 28 Dec 2008
roujinroujin
Rated 09 Jul 2008
40
19th
I'm mad depressed, yo! I need to get my dick sucked 4 real. It's tough being a white teenager, dude.
Rated 09 Jul 2008
gtown1479gtown1479
Rated 22 Sep 2009
61
23rd
Why Method Man? Who was the genius that casted him as a Jamaican? Thank goodness there were few scenes with him. He can't act and that was proven within one sylable of his first line in the movie. It is sad to say this but I think the only thing that I liked about this movie was the music. So I will make this comment... Skip the movie and just go by the soundtrack instead. It will save you the bother. Who convinced Sir Ben to do this thing? I am not going to pun the title. too easy.
Rated 22 Sep 2009
jacoiiiJacoIII
Rated 18 Apr 2009
10
1st
Standard garbage indie flick made all the more frustrating because there are some genuinely good actors in this cast. I don't expect coming-of-age stories to be original but c'mon, I don't want cliched trash. One good point: killer soundtrack but no original songs so it's like complimenting my cooking skills because I threw canned soup in a pot.
Rated 18 Apr 2009
nilkynarfynilkynarfy
Rated 22 Nov 2012
80
78th
Bromance done, well, adequately. Yeah, Ben Kingsley's accent was either Brooklynese or Swedish, but I still liked the guy. Josh Peck being good was no surprise; the dude's been at it since he was a sperm. Not one you'll put on speed dial, but not just a time filler either.
Rated 22 Nov 2012
afx237viafx237vi
Rated 15 Dec 2010
20
6th
Tedious coming-of-age drama with an awkward, trying-too-hard script and a washed-out colour palette that made it look like someone smeared Vaseline over my TV screen. Ben Kingsley was nominated for a Razzie for his performance in this, and probably should have won just for the accent alone. Speaking of accents - Method Man as a Jamaican? Duuude, that shit is wack, yo...
Rated 15 Dec 2010
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 26 Jan 2012
58
46th
Acting; not that good. Story; pretty bland. Cool music though. Great quote: "Actually I'm thinking about becoming a shrink." Psychology? It's not quite the shoe business, but it's a very interesting field. "I figure I'm an expert because everyone around me is so fucking crazy, you know?"
Rated 26 Jan 2012
neil_millerNeil Miller
Rated 06 Sep 2008
90
94th
Jonathan Levine's dark, intelligently crafted comedy may not be the type of film that crosses over into every demographic, but for those who lived during the mid-90s, this film speaks to a part of you that others just might not understand.
Rated 06 Sep 2008
matthew_parkinsonMatthew Parkinson
Rated 05 May 2015
70
77th
A kind of weird, kind of awesome coming-of-age story for a drug dealer and his therapist. Good performances.
Rated 05 May 2015
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 22 Jan 2024
62
22nd
Passable coming of age drama feels too similar to any number of noughties-era coming of agers; overtly a mix of IGBY GOES DOWN and WONDER BOYS, but there’s a curious lack of significant incident (or development in the relationships) that makes the film feel like too much furious wheel-spinning – and while Kingsley seems to be having a lot of broaaaaad fun with his performance, his character makes little sense. Redeemed somewhat by Peck and Thirlby, who make for a charming and likable couple.
Rated 22 Jan 2024
cowfrappecowfrappe
Rated 20 Dec 2008
72
64th
A strange, confusing romp through 1994 New York with a surprisingly good performance by Nickelodeon's Josh Peck.
Rated 20 Dec 2008
pigletPiglet
Rated 22 Jul 2009
75
79th
Good depiction of New York cirka '93, during a hot summer. We follow a drug dealer who goes to therapy and at the same time dates the therapists daughter. The therapist himself is having trouble with his marriage, and it's all a bit absurd, especially when the two go out on the town together. Fantastic soundtrack, but you should get the sundance soundtrack, not the one from the final cut.
Rated 22 Jul 2009
overratedoverrated
Rated 26 Feb 2017
17
9th
This obviously skated by on the soundtrack in 2008 - was this the first notable movie to start on 90's nostalgia? Super cliched coming of age story, awful acting all round including Kingsley, laughable dialogue. Just listen to the music instead.
Rated 26 Feb 2017
mohkoMohko
Rated 27 Dec 2008
85
92nd
Funny and touching movie with great a soundtrack of 90's rap. If you're not into that kind of music then you probably won't like the movie as much as I did.
Rated 27 Dec 2008
lebarLebar
Rated 29 Dec 2008
77
66th
nice job................PEACE !!!
Rated 29 Dec 2008
sebbysebby
Rated 19 Jul 2008
70
72nd
Funny and emotionally potent with a great soundtrack without ever being "pretentious" or "quirky." Kingsley and Peck are a great duo.
Rated 19 Jul 2008
kavuKavu
Rated 14 Jan 2009
80
69th
Pretty basic indie drama with great performances by the lead actors and a well directed atmosphere aided by a good soundtrack.
Rated 14 Jan 2009
obdurateObdurate
Rated 15 Feb 2009
80
67th
It's pretty standard indie dramedy but it has some heart. It's a really dark looking movie, which makes sense considering it's such a downer a lot of the time. It has excellent excellent music but a pretty generic "live life" message, but I thought the actors and the story was good enough to draw me in, and that's really all I need from a movie to recommend it.
Rated 15 Feb 2009
korteeKortee
Rated 14 Jul 2011
58
26th
nicely done with a great sound
Rated 14 Jul 2011
lawrencelawrence
Rated 09 Jun 2009
96
65th
Ben Kingsley. Nice soundtrack and cinematography. The emphasis on the youth language gets Juno-style tiresome.
Rated 09 Jun 2009
vheujgevheujge
Rated 30 Jan 2010
57
45th
I think Josh Peck was a major miscast but otherwise not a bad movie.
Rated 30 Jan 2010
mohanmohan
Rated 07 Mar 2009
80
22nd
good little hippy film, worth a matinee
Rated 07 Mar 2009
bookhouseboybookhouseboy
Rated 25 Oct 2011
47
64th
#11#, reviews, story, (casting).
Rated 25 Oct 2011
suisai13Suisai13
Rated 12 Jan 2009
85
50th
This movie plays like a love letter to late 90's hip hop. It was funny enough just listening to how some of these people talked just a little more than a decade ago. The story was told through the eyes of the loser/underdog which is always endearing. Kingsley does his thing, and Mary-Kate's appearance is a trip. I pretty much like most movies where the whole cast of characters is pretty screwed in the head, but "i got mad love for this movie, yo".
Rated 12 Jan 2009
jack_boomJack Boom
Rated 17 Oct 2008
90
83rd
This film is fantastic and hilarious. Ben Kingsley gives an outstanding performance that hasn't been seen since Sexy Beast and newcomer Josh Peck holds it down well as both of them have good on screen chemistry. Loved Method Man's Jamaican accent and the music just brought back memories, I remember buying Biggie's Ready to Die that summer as well when the main character is first introduced to Notorious BIG. Go check this flick, wack it is not.
Rated 17 Oct 2008
gokcanzgokcanz
Rated 26 Oct 2012
50
20th
* Casting, Acting : 5 * Script : 5 * Directing, Aura : 6 * Ease of Viewing : 4 * Naked Eye : 5
Rated 26 Oct 2012
nilooravaeinilooravaei
Rated 25 Dec 2013
70
15th
the over the top 90s slang was annoying to say the least and the characters were all one dimensional losers with no redeeming qualities.
Rated 25 Dec 2013
hahaHaha
Rated 24 Mar 2009
57
24th
Some great turns among the cast is not enough to lift this film above some horrid directing and writing decisions. Its fresh, but thats it.
Rated 24 Mar 2009
jordandcfcJordanDcFc
Rated 25 Mar 2012
78
56th
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta. Great soundtrack and performance by Josh Peck.
Rated 25 Mar 2012
naurunauru
Rated 19 Apr 2009
90
98th
The soundtrack, the pacing, the atmosphere... all just right. Such a great film. Totally unexpected too, as I picked it out of a text list solely because of the strange name while knowing nothing else about the actors, plot or director.
Rated 19 Apr 2009
rafalivrarirafa_livrari
Rated 23 Aug 2012
80
67th
It made me stop and think about some points of view.
Rated 23 Aug 2012
brittanbrittan
Rated 02 Aug 2010
86
36th
Quintessential 90s nostalgia, brilliant use of "Can I Kick It?" and an overall nice coming-of-age film set to an A+ soundtrack.
Rated 02 Aug 2010
jackdurdenJackDurden
Rated 13 Oct 2008
8
71st
Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, and a killer soundtrack make this one of the most enjoyable movies of 2008.
Rated 13 Oct 2008
drstrange1DrStrange1
Rated 01 Feb 2009
40
31st
good soundtrack...lame movie. It's hard to take actors like Josh Peck and Mary-Kate Olsen seriously, and what's up with Ben Kinglsey doing so many shit roles lately?
Rated 01 Feb 2009
ytadelYtadel
Rated 15 Feb 2009
3
28th
A moderately likable little slice-of-life Manhattan story with a whole lot of 90s nostalgia and sepia-toned photography. Ben Kingsley and Famke Janssen don't have much chemistry, but other than that it's enjoyable.
Rated 15 Feb 2009
astrophizzAstrophizz
Rated 01 Feb 2011
75
50th
Soundtrack makes up for a lot.
Rated 01 Feb 2011
sealsseals
Rated 26 Aug 2022
8
81st
rewatch.
Rated 26 Aug 2022
pierre_Pierre_
Rated 17 May 2010
42
9th
Ben Kingsley is good. That's it. Other than that, Josh Peck needs to close his mouth. EDIT (after reading other reviews): The soundtrack is not that great guys, c'mon. You can hear all this sh1t on the radio. Except for the Wu. The Wu's the Wu.
Rated 17 May 2010
drrobertdr_Robert
Rated 26 Feb 2017
4
77th
Indie-feelgood. Borde egentligen ha betyget 3½, men det finns ju inte. Filmen är inte precis djup, men god underhållning för stunden. Kingsley gör en skön karaktär av sin tokige psykolog, men annars står inte karaktärerna så mycket i fokus som en skön "New York på sommaren"-känsla. Musiken har en lite med drivande funktion än i de flesta filmer och det är nästan så att jag plockar fram nåt femton år gammalt hip hop-album när jag kommer hem. På minussidan står främst att de
Rated 26 Feb 2017
realmacgyverRealMacgyver
Rated 09 Aug 2009
80
79th
Great stuff. The girl reminded me of someone I knew at the same age (still do), Kingsley was STUNNING and the soundtrack was from Hip Hops hayday.
Rated 09 Aug 2009
howleythowleyt
Rated 04 May 2009
10
2nd
Lowest score for movie I've actually watched.
Rated 04 May 2009
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 10 Aug 2008
6
55th
Basically a John Hughes movie with lots of swearing, The Wu, and weed. It's just a standard indie film but it's not that bad.
Rated 10 Aug 2008
beer94Beer94
Rated 29 May 2013
48
18th
It was enough to vaguely keep my interest, but just flailed around mostly. If you manage to get through the boring stuff, the end actually lifts it slightly. It's a long uninteresting trip though. Some decent retro editing and lighting and acting is decent for what the actors were given to go off, but overall, another example of an indie film which comes off as slightly pretentious. Shouty intense Josh Peck just reminds me of his Drake & Josh days too unfortunately.
Rated 29 May 2013
tinysausagetinysausage
Rated 25 Mar 2011
68
36th
Likeable coming of age tale with a leftfield performance from Kingsley and a nice sense of time and place, helped by the great soundtrack.
Rated 25 Mar 2011
parcalihamparcaliham
Rated 28 Oct 2008
35
10th
18 Ekim 08, Antalya Altin Portakal '08, salon2, 21:30 & gulumseten anlari, sahneleri var. fakat bundan ibaret! muzikleri hosuma gitmedi. basroldeki cocugun oyunculugu iyi degildi! sanirim filmin izlenecek tek yani ben kingsley.
Rated 28 Oct 2008
sweinbergs.weinberg
Rated 22 Apr 2009
50
31st
"Trim a good twenty minutes from this overlong exercise, and you'd help the comedic pacing a whole lot."
Rated 22 Apr 2009
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 21 Oct 2010
25
61st
"It's Josh Peck, though, whose performance (as the "most popular of the unpopular") holds the film together amidst all its audio-video mannerisms and increasingly sappy developments." - Nick Schager
Rated 21 Oct 2010
aaautinAAAutin
Rated 25 Feb 2011
38
26th
Wack.
Rated 25 Feb 2011
totoroTotoro.
Rated 08 Sep 2009
60
35th
Needed to be reworked a bit.
Rated 08 Sep 2009
glifosfatoglifosfato
Rated 12 Mar 2013
17
10th
the film is especially bad because josh from drake and josh butchered a part that could have been funny with his riské acting, as if saying "pls take me srsly". notes: that was a terrible 1994; among the worst acting i've ever seen from famke janssen; film suffered from bad directing.
Rated 12 Mar 2013
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 01 Dec 2012
30
18th
A story about a young drug dealer (Josh Peck) and his psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley) who is more messed up than he is. There are a few comedic moments but it is mostly filled of drama about the mans midlife crisis and the boys youthful angst. It is a sometimes charming story. Olivia Thirlbe is a pretty young teenager, Famke Janssen is an apathetic bored housewife, and Jane Adams is also a hot mess. The movie meanders, but the finale gets a little intense. Worth watching but not great.
Rated 01 Dec 2012
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 05 May 2009
60
63rd
Okay Movie
Rated 05 May 2009
jerkyJerky
Rated 19 Nov 2013
45
34th
One of the worst lines in film history, and delivered by a self absorbed, teenage white girl, no less. "I like to see the dopeness in things, you only see the wackness" Jesus Christ that's bad! Josh peck was right....he is a loser. He was way too whiny and annoying and sounded like he needed to blow his nose the whole time. Ben Kingsley was just hamming it up for the cameras while losing his accent every 20 minutes. Pretty bland overall.
Rated 19 Nov 2013
aicheAICHE
Rated 09 Jul 2011
68
27th
So aptly titled.
Rated 09 Jul 2011
krmrkrmr
Rated 10 Mar 2009
76
33rd
The beginning is damn good, but at almost exactly the half way point it turns into an extremely cliched, uninteresting and unremarkable movie. It's a true shame since the beginning had such promise, it's enjoyable nonetheless though.
Rated 10 Mar 2009
td888td888
Rated 19 May 2013
50
41st
A typical coming of age story.
Rated 19 May 2013
aceysaid10AceySaid10%
Rated 02 Feb 2012
70
10th
Wack.
Rated 02 Feb 2012
wezzoWezzo
Rated 19 Feb 2014
75
37th
Figured I'd follow up Kids with an ever-so-slightly lighter look at sex-and-drug-driven New York teen life in the 1990s, also soundtracked to a hip-hop beat. A very specific subgenre, yet The Wackness is very little like Kids; here there is life, and hope, amidst the despair. A sweet indie drama featuring some solid performances.
Rated 19 Feb 2014
weirdyodaweirdyoda
Rated 03 Jan 2009
85
74th
Olivia Thirlby. yes!
Rated 03 Jan 2009
foxforcefivefoxforcefive
Rated 19 Jul 2009
90
50th
hooray for weed. this movie made me wish that I wasn't 5 years old in 1994. I coulda been out buying drugz from Josh Peck instead. Ben Kingsley is amazing, yet again. Try and count how many bongs that man owns.
Rated 19 Jul 2009
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 13 Mar 2009
64
32nd
Nostalgia aside, a pretty mediocre movie. Really though, what was the need to shove 1994 down our throats? Countless references were made throughout the film to the point of being extremely cheesy. Capture the era, don't announce it.
Rated 13 Mar 2009

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