Pace Press

Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

The Wackness, written and directed by Jonathan Levine, highlights a teenager's struggle with dealing drugs, his constantly fighting parents and girl problems. As many people seek guidance in a time of chaos through psychology sessions, the same applies for Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck). The irony of his situation is that he pays his psychologist, Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley), in packets of weed. Shapiro gets his weekly supply of drugs from a Jamaican dealer (Method Man). 

The film takes place in 1994 New York, often making references to events of that time such as Kurt Cobain's death or Rudy Giuliani implementing new laws to "suck all the fun out of life" by cracking down on marijuana, graffiti and public intoxication. They come to the conclusion that their mutual need is to get laid and follow their mission throughout the film. Following his doctors suggestions, Shapiro tries to find love and falls for the first girl who pays him any attention, Dr. Squires' stepdaughter, Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby).

Shapiro's family life seems to be the root of his problem and contributes to his social awkwardness. He feels the responsibility to make enough money to prevent them from getting evicted and moving to New Jersey - which Shapiro feels would be the worst thing that could happen to a teenager. The doctor-patient relationship that develops is much more than what the average person would expect, as they go to a bar together where Dr. Squires hits on Union (Mary Kate Olsen) - admitting to wanting to cheat on his much younger wife, Famke Janssen, for the first time.

Shapiro experiences his first sexual relations with Stephanie on Fire Island; she, however, has sexual expertise, admitting to have already slept with over 200 men. After he says, "I love you," to her, she responds nonchalantly with, "Wow dude," and begins to avoid him.

The juxtaposition of Dr. Squires and Shapiro makes the film effective in presenting the struggles of these two individuals dealing with similar problems at different ages. It seems as though Dr. Squires wishes he was like Shapiro - able to go to college, get drunk, sleep with girls and have no responsibility, whereas Luke wants a relationship and a job and money. In the end Shapiro admits to having aspirations of becoming a shrink because everyone in his family is so "fucked up."

There are some great comedic lines in the film, but overall it is quite depressing and leaves you questioning life and what it means to enter adulthood. It definitely touches on significant issues of the time and shows New York in a very different light, when it is only set 13 years ago. It also captures aspects of the evolution of slang terms using words such as dope, homeboy/homegirl, illin' and wack, just to name a few.

As a whole the film was well put together and well cast, but the plot gets lost somewhere around the middle: I lost my initial idea of what the characters sought out for, as in the end they both seemed to lose what they wanted but gained a sense of individualism. Losing the house and the girl, Shapiro's future lies in college and a degree in psychology whereas Dr. Squires, in losing his wife and stepdaughter, is seen drinking beer out of a brown paper bag in the park like a teenager. I found myself anticipating some sort of optimistic revelation that never really happened.

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