Fa' la cosa sbagliata

I walked into this film with 0 expectations having received pre-screener passes from a local record store. This is a beautifully filmed true to life story which I felt held very deep meaning about the beauty that is the start and end of relationships. We follow the summer of two very different men in who are in very similar mindsets dealing with the personal crises, quiet pleasures, new experiences, and endless repetition that is life. This is a realistic and philosophical film that the label "comedy" does not do justice, but there are steady laughs throughout the film, especially for those of us who grew up in the 1990s. Only let-down was Mary-Kate Olsen, who I simply couldn't buy in her role, fortunately, it's a very small part.

This film is about a lonely young man befriending an unconventional psychiatrist, while dating his daughter at the same time.

"The Wackness" seems desperate to please viewers, as can be seen from the plentiful of hip hop, street culture, sex scenes and drug scenes. However, all these elements fail to save "The Wackness" from being a wreck. The characters are unsympathetic, and even disgusting at times. I cannot imagine a psychiatrist to encourage drugs and crime, which is completely unethical. The plot is not engaging either, as I do not find a collection of random irresponsible behaviour entertaining. Furthermore, lighting is bad throughout the film, most of the time faces are too dark. I was thoroughly bored and disappointed by "The Wackness".

This might get me into trouble with the film elite, but I found this film so much more real and absorbing than David Gordon Green's "All The Real Girls." They both deal with young men coming of age thanks to first love, but this film has such superior performances and writing. Expertly directed and stacked with some of the best hip hop of the nineties, it's a film that is hilarious, sad and moving, populated with great characters you'll enjoy spending a couple of hours with.

I really wish a film like this had found me in my teenage years, because it's so refreshing and honest. It's nice to watch a movie that celebrates the time honored art of owning and embracing the pain that makes you who you are.

People whine and bitch about the glut of hollow Hollywood formula flooding the marketplace, but a great little film like The Wackness with a strong voice is not getting the support it deserves.

The entire theater loved it, as did my friends I brought along who knew nothing about it.

Do yourself a favor and go see The Wackness. You won't be disappointed.

From Luke's opening monologue set to the strains of old school hip-hop through to a beautifully crafted story that is both poignant and funny and Ben Kingsley's wonderful turn as psychiatrist Dr. Squires this film is a winner. Set in New York in 1994 the story follows Luke Shapiro as he graduates school and becomes a dope dealer full time. It's a coming of age drama of sorts but equally as he is struggling to come to terms with embarking on life after school, parents, peer pressure and girls his psychiatrist Dr. Squires, who he deals to in exchange for counselling, is also coming to terms with growing old, a failing marriage and drug dependency. The two form an unlikely bond, Luke is in love with Dr. Squires step daughter and Dr .Squires wants to recapture his lost youth which opens the way for some charming and damn funny moments. Kingsley plays the good doctor like a cross between 'The Big Lebowski's' the dude and a drug addled Terry Nutkins, it's a great role and another that shows just how versatile he is as an actor. Luke is played by local boy Josh Peck and as well as being a perfect foil for Kingsley he is also great in his own right, very reminiscent of the lead from Thumbsucker all floppy haired and wide eyed. The music mostly nineties hip-hop, like A Tribe Called Quest and Notorious B.i.g to name but a few is balanced with classic rock as the two now friends swap mix tapes. Well paced and effortless in its execution this should be as big as say 'Juno' but due to its content and drug references it probably won't be, but don't let that put you off seeing this great little film.

Saw this a few years ago on THIS-TV and it's one of those flicks that catch you pleasantly off-guard. From the beginning, the soundtrack oozes with a background of NYC sights and sounds pulsing with Summer of 1994 East Coast hip hop including Wu-Tang, Busta Rhymes, ONYX, A Tribe Called Quest and many others. You can practically smell the sweat and weed coming off the screen as Josh Peck and Ben Kingsley form an unusual commercial alliance. There's a dream-like sequence as Peck falls for Kingsley's niece propelled by the ambient weed and hip hop vibe that is one of the best movie scenes from 2008 film-making. Dunno if it's Netflix but watch it sometime to catch the spirit of Summer, 1994.