The Wackness

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The Wackness

R

2008

1h 50m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

It's summer in New York City, the year is 1994, and teenage marijuana dealer Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) is trading dime bags for sessions with his therapist, Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley). Luke has girl troubles and self-esteem issues, but the doctor has problems of his own -- namely, his deteriorating marriage and midlife crisis. Together, the mismatched pair launch across the metropolis on an odyssey full of girls (Olivia Thirlby, Mary-Kate Olsen), hip-hop and cannabis smoke.

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Critics Consensus

Sympathetic characters and a clever script help The Wackness overcome a familiar plot to make for a charming coming-of-age comedy.

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David Stratton

The Australian

Nov 19, 2008

3.5/5

If nothing else, it's probably worth seeing for the kissing scene between Kingsley and Mary-Kate Olsen.

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Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

Nov 14, 2008

2/5

It muddles through on its period infatuation and on Kingsley's dope-loving turn as a doctor constantly on the verge of another hit.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Aug 29, 2008

3/5

The Wackness, while no masterpiece, is the kind of film that doesn't come to much but is watchable as it saunters along with a provoking sense of meaningful pessimism. The performances are really the thing - Levine hasn't managed anything better.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Sep 11, 2020

3.5/5

The film's subtle shifts in tone and intent are handled brilliantly by Josh Peck, who plays a troubled teen drug dealer with the damaged bravado and raw honesty of a young De Niro.

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Jun 1, 2020

Jonathan Levine's Sundance hit comedy bonds a drug-dealing teen with an eccentric psychiatrist in a daffy search through Rudyland.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Nov 6, 2019

What can I say? THE WACKNESS is the most WACKTASTIC, FAN -*$&%ING-TASTIC film of the year!

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Paolo M

@RT44149452 Sep 11, 2026

This is one of my fav movies. Is amazing and would just see it over and over.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Oct 3, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Glen M

@RT78207714 Dec 4, 2022

very nostalgic look back well made well acted

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prawnda s

@RT72497680 Feb 27, 2022

pretty good, but the sex scenes are numerous, long, and excessively pornographic. i'm sure plenty of people would love to watch things like that, but it doesn't fit with the rest of the quality portions of the story.

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Feb 22, 2022

Really enjoying re-watching the movie

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Mar 17, 2021

An unlikely friendship develops between a high school pot dealer and his boomer shrink, and over the course of a summer they attempt to fix each other's dysfunctional lives. If you can overlook some plot conceits (we're supposed to believe that a handsome and likeable drug dealer is completely friendless) The Wackness is a very watchable coming of age story helped along by a good script and solid acting. Ben Kingsley gives a cheeky performance as a pot and pill addled psychiatrist, and a laid back ‘90s hip hop soundtrack sets the mood.

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Jonathan Levine

Director

Ben Kingsley

Dr. Squires

Josh Peck

Luke Shapiro

Famke Janssen

Kristin Squires

Olivia Thirlby

Stephanie

Mary-Kate Olsen

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Synopsis

It's summer in New York City, the year is 1994, and teenage marijuana dealer Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) is trading dime bags for sessions with his therapist, Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley). Luke has girl troubles and self-esteem issues, but the doctor has problems of his own -- namely, his deteriorating marriage and midlife crisis. Together, the mismatched pair launch across the metropolis on an odyssey full of girls (Olivia Thirlby, Mary-Kate Olsen), hip-hop and cannabis smoke.

Director: Jonathan Levine
Producer: Keith Calder, Felipe Marino, Joe Neurauter
Screenwriter: Jonathan Levine
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Shapiro Levine Productions, Occupant Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Drug Use|Language|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 3, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 20, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 50m

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