The Wackness Review
By David Kempler
Wacky Weed
It's the summer of 1994 and Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) is graduating from high school in the teeming streets of Manhattan. Luke is an unusual young man who doesn't quite fit in. But one thing he is, is a helluva businessman. His business just happens to be selling pot.
One of Luke's regular customers is Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley), a psychiatrist to be precise. Luke has regular sessions but they are really just an excuse for Squires to buy some pot. The length of the session decides how much he is entitled to. It's a nice base from which the energy of "The Wackness" flows.
Despite Luke's financial success, he is lonely. His friends are really nothing more than his customers and even though his relationship with the doctor is based on commerce it does serve him psychologically as well, but in a manner far from what you might expect. The doctor's cure for everything is for Luke to lose his virginity, and certainly to some extent he is right. As Luke comes to realize that he has no real friends, Dr. Squires begins to fill that void. In turn, Luke is filling a void in the doctor's life. Symbiosis is a wonderful thing.
Luke's home life is chaotic because his parents are experiencing serious financial problems and, needless to say, this is fraying their relationship and is wearing Luke down. Despite his being at least somewhat disgusted by his parents (what teenager isn't) he puts it all upon his own shoulders to try and help them out by earning even more cash out on the street. At the same time he is also harboring feelings for Dr. Squires' stepdaughter, Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby). He has known her for years but she runs with the cool kids so his chances are not real good - but you never know.
While Luke's life is slowly taking form, Dr. Squires' life is unraveling. Much like Luke, it becomes apparent that Dr. Squires has no close friends. Their bond is officially formed and that bond leads the doctor to join Luke on his daily rounds of selling and the result is fun to watch. It's not earth-shattering nor does it contain any great meaning but it works. The result is a very sweet film and I mean that in the very best way. It is not cloying. It does not tug at your heartstrings. There is no anger or overplayed self-pity. It just happens. By confiding in each other their unusual friendship grows and both are far the better for it.
Director Jonathan Lane provides a steady but light touch that allows the characters to feel natural in every situation they encounter. This is in no small part due to the acting of Peck and the rest of the cast. But as usual, special kudos go to Kingsley who absolutely never fails to deliver no matter the role. Without him I'm not sure what we have here. With him we have a delightful movie-going experience. I don't know who the phrase was originally created for but "I could watch him read the phonebook" aptly describes Sir Ben Kingsley. His role as Dr. Squires joins his houseful of memorable characters. This is a quality endeavor anyway but when Kingsley is on screen you can't help but marvel at him even as he pulls off the miracle of making you almost forget it is him.
