The Wackness - 1 1/2 smiles

At one point in “The Wackness,” Stephanie (Olivia Thrilby) tells Luke (Josh Peck), "It doesn't matter." That’s what I felt about the whole movie. And when you don’t care about the characters or the situation they find themselves in, how can you care about the movie? Written and directed by Jonathan Levine, “The Wackness” boasts an eclectic cast: Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, and Mary-Kate Olsen along with Thrilby and Peck. That’s about the only positive comment I can make. Set during the summer of 1994, “The Wackness” is about a young drug dealer, Luke Shapiro (Peck), who has just graduated from high school. Dr. Squires (Kingsley) is a low-life psychiatrist who gives Josh advice in exchange for the grass that Josh peddles. To complicate matters, Josh has a crush on Squire’s stepdaughter, Stephanie. Bottom line, “The Wackness” is about Josh and Stephanie’s summer fling. This movie tries way too hard to be hip, but does anyone care? (6/6/08)