ROTTEN TOMATOES: Exclusive Teaser: Relive the Summer of '94 With The Wackness

Exclusive Teaser: Relive the Summer of '94 With The Wackness

Drift back to New York City in the summer of '94 with our exclusive alternate trailer for Sony Pictures Classics' award-winning The Wackness.

by Jen Yamato | July 01, 2008

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New York City, circa 1994: it's a summer of hip-hop, girls, dope, and dealing for college-bound teenager Luke. Watch an exclusive alternate teaser for Sony Pictures Classics' The Wackness, starring Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby, and Ben Kingsley.

Writer-director Jonathan Levine (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) sets us adrift on memory bliss in his second feature film, a comic drama about teenage pot dealer Luke (Josh Peck) and his marijuana-smoking therapist, Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley) living and learning their way through New York City in the summer of 1994.

Click for more images

Along the way the duo encounters Luke's colorful clients (including Mary-Kate Olsen and Method Man) and Luke falls for Squires' step-daughter (Juno's Olivia Thirlby); Levine sets it all to the throwback sounds of Biz Markie, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang, and more to recreate an autobiographical version of the coming-of-age soundtrack to his own life.

Fresh off winning the Audience Awards at Sundance and last week's Los Angeles Film Festival (click for more L.A. Film Festival coverage), The Wackness is at 70 percent on the Tomatometer. See it in limited release this Friday.

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(1-12 of 12 posts) | Reply

crazykila93 writes:
on Jul 01 2008 09:17 PM

I dont really think Peck can handle that type of role. But he could prove me wrong.

(Reply to this)

Spurple writes:
on Jul 01 2008 09:22 PM

Yeah, I mean I'm only going off this trailer, but Peck looks surprisingly good, or at the very least interesting. And I really like the movies Olivia Thirlby has been doing... I really want to see this movie.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Jul 01 2008 10:45 PM

I agree, spurple. Peck does look like he's coming into his own here (after playing various kid roles in Mean Creek, Drillbit Taylor, and that show he has). I think this could be great, and I'm looking forward to seeing it, in no small part thanks to the music.

(Reply to this)

sfpcross writes:
on Jul 01 2008 11:50 PM

Well I saw this film at the Cinevegas film festival, and let me just say that it was phenomenal. It is one of the only films I have ever seen to truly capture what it is like to be an 18 year old on the cusp of manhood. Every actor gives a great performance, and the dialog is fantastic. Ben Kingsley is beyond description. One of his lines towards the end of the movie is possibly THE funniest thing I have ever heard. Definitely check this movie out.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jul 02 2008 10:45 AM

The Olsen girl appears to love Pot. . . I just saw Weeds 3, she was pretty good as the evangelical christian/pothead.

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terrible1 writes:
on Jul 02 2008 10:41 PM

This looks great. Ben Kingsley is the man! Peck looks surprisingly good too, but i'm not too sure about Olsen....I actually didn't like her in Weeds, but thats me. The 90's mixed with pot and hip hop were some good times!

(Reply to this)

SpencerBenedict writes:
on Jul 03 2008 05:09 PM

...i like pot. But i don't smoke it no more. Sometimes i miss it. I don't really have much to say about the movie, i just want everybody to know i miss smoking pot.

(Reply to this)

grantrl78 writes:
on Jul 03 2008 10:14 PM

MY GOD. Isn't it just a bit early to be having nostalgia films about the early 90s. This preview gives me a stomach ache.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jul 04 2008 04:53 PM

Actually, I think all the music they played was a few years before '94. . . I'm pretty confident Biz Markie's masterpiece was earlier. . .

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FARMER! writes:
on Jul 05 2008 11:52 AM

The WHOLE cast has done an excellent job on this film and they should be applauded in ever way possible. A bit too early to have an nostalgia film about the 90''s? Your narrow-mindedness makes MY stomach ache. For those who grew up in the 90's in NYC will not only relate to the story but reflect on their 'first times' and the music you were listening to and the friends they once or still have. The movie is real in all aspects. Yes, Josh Peck has done a lot of children-based projects but no one could say whether or not he can handle roles except himself. See the film before you base your opinions of a minute and a half trailer.

(Reply to this)

mchris65 writes:
on Jul 07 2008 10:06 AM

What's next, relive 2 months ago?

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jul 07 2008 12:19 PM

I think soon it will be nostalgia for the future.

(Reply to this)