Famke Janssen Movie:

		List Price: $39.95		Label: Sony Pictures Salesrank: 34777 Released: January 6, 2009
		Our Price: $14.87
		Used Price: $10.77
		MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: Blu-ray

Editorial Review:

Genre: Comedy
Rating: R
Release Date: 6-JAN-2009
Media Type: Blu-Ray

Description of The Wackness [Blu-ray]:
Jonathan Levine's nostalgic reverie recreates a more innocent New York. In 1994, the Twin Towers watch over Manhattan, and Rudolph Giuliani reigns as mayor--not a bestselling author or presidential candidate. Recent high school grad Luke Shapiro (sleepy-eyed Josh Peck, Drake and Josh) plies the kind of trade Giuliani seeks to discourage: dope dealing. Otherwise, though, Luke's not such a bad kid. He sees a therapist, the pot-smoking Dr. Squires (Sir Ben Kingsley), and nurses a crush on the doctor's flirtatious stepdaughter, Stephanie (Juno's Olivia Thirlby). Hip-hop fills the air, and Luke spends his days grooving to Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., and A Tribe Called Quest, while selling cannabis out of an ice-cream cart (Wu-Tang rapper Method Man plays his Rasta supplier). As the summer heats up, Luke and Stephanie grow closer, while Squires and his wife, Kristin (Famke Janssen), drift apart. Meanwhile, Luke's family faces eviction if his father's fortunes don't improve, and he finds himself torn between the hot girl, the bummed-out shrink, and a job that could land him in the clink for a good long time--or save the Shapiros from moving to New Jersey. Though Levine (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) doesn't judge his law-breaking protagonist, he does suggest that love can make a smart guy lose his head just as easily as lust--and even a trained psychiatrist can't always tell the difference. With Mary-Kate Olsen (Weeds) and Jane Adams (Happiness) as the spaciest of Luke's spacey customers. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Stills from The Wackness (click for larger image)

The Wackness [Blu-ray] Reviews:
How to spell sunshine backwards
2009-12-06 - I'm not quite sure why I liked this film as much as I did. There were a number of off kilter moments, a throwaway ending and a general sloppiness that makes it quite short of anything approaching masterpiece... And yet. And yet, strewn throughout the film is a playfulness that's rare, and, for lack of a better word, rather precious. It takes a different way of looking at the world from the 'mainstream,' so dubbed 'the wackness,' and shows not only how useful it can be, but also how fun.

Simply put, a good film for those who dance to the beat of a different drummer, or, at least, dance differently to the beat of a really lame one.

Great Film
2009-10-07 - I usually don't write reviews but I loved this film! I haven't seen a film with such truth and meaning in a long time. I would definitely recommend.

Wonderful coming of age story
2009-10-05 - "The Wackness"(2008) was wonderfully directed by Jonathan Levine. This coming of age comedy-drama features excellent performances by Ben Kingsley (Dr. Squires), Josh Peck (Luke) and Olivia Thirlby (Stephanie). What particularly impressed me was the humor, novelty, and maturity with which the material was handled. Just as Josh is growing up and developing a relationship with Stephanie, Dr. Squires' step-daughter, the adults around him seem to be losing control of their worlds. This funny and often touching film leaves one with a feeling of hope despite the hurdles that life often has for us.

SUUUUUUUUU
2009-09-22 - Meth makes the movie. Wu-Tang forever! Other then that the movie is great. The story is wonderful and so is the acting. It seems like a very real and true life depiction of some peoples lives. I really enjoyed it from start to finish and found my self really falling in love with the characters. A great film for anyone that wants to see what it is like for some kids growing up in todays society.

What A Surprise, The Wackness Is Actually On Point
2009-08-12 - I haven't heard much about this movie besides seeing the name on Peck's list of films on wikipedia. Of course I judged the title thinking that the film would be some lame attempt of a superbad type comedy but man was I wrong. The wackness is actually quite easy to explain and although it contains a young man with an occupation that isn't known for such a lifestyle I feel a lot of teens can sort of relate to it. Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) is a 17 year old just a day from graduation. He's an incredibly lonely drug dealer that is basically dieing inside from not living the life of having fun and being dumb. The film takes him on a small hip hop packed and smoke filled adventure to live some sort of a teenage life before the summers over. He eventually finds a friend in his psychiatrist Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley) but it takes time for them to realize how important they are to each other.

I've grown up watching Peck on Nick although he played great characters in those films he was mostly the side man and fell under the radar until he started getting a little older. My point is that I think this guy is a pretty good dramatic actor, better than his comedic roles he played on Nick. The acting was solid especially the slightly self destructive pot smoking Ben Kingsley, loved the cast. The story itself was a kind of crazy, I mean I believe that drug dealers are usually depicted as these people that get love and hate but not a lot of loneliness or at least not the high school type guys. I love how they put that spin on it because somehow everyone is linked by this. Peck's character shares what a lot of us had or even have, that big chunk of life you felt like you missed or are about to miss and all that experience and life just falls into your lap at one time.

I mean overall I loved the movie, I think the insane but realistic characters even though the weed thing sends it over a bit but it pulls it to be a super cool movie. It also has one of the sickest soundtracks of all time. I love the fact that the movie didn't try and make cliche's or make fun of hip hop. It felt like it was truly paying homage to the music, another thing that helps ease through the times. If you're a fan of good movies period I know you'll love this film. It was hard to find anything to take away from it but it's definitely a must see.