Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ben Kingsley | ... | Dr. Squires | |
Josh Peck | ... | Luke Shapiro | |
Famke Janssen | ... | Mrs. Squires | |
Olivia Thirlby | ... | Stephanie | |
Mary-Kate Olsen | ... | Union | |
Jane Adams | ... | Eleanor | |
Method Man | ... | Percy | |
Aaron Yoo | ... | Justin | |
Talia Balsam | ... | Mrs. Shapiro | |
David Wohl | ... | Mr. Shapiro | |
Bob Dishy | ... | Grandpa Shapiro | |
Joanna Merlin | ... | Grandma Shapiro | |
Shannon Briggs | ... | Bodyguard #1 | |
Roy Milton Davis | ... | Homeless Man | |
Alexander Flores | ... | Kid in Bar |
Friendship, love, and coming of age in New York City, summer of 1994. Luke Shapiro has just graduated from high school, sells marijuana, and trades pot for therapy from a psychologist, Dr. Jeffrey Squires. Luke is attracted to a classmate, Stephanie, who's out of his league and Squires' step-daughter. By July, he's hanging out with Stephanie, taking her on his rounds selling pot out of an ice-cream pushcart. Then things take a turn. In the background, Squires and his wife as well as Luke's parents are having their troubles. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
It's the summer of '94 in Giuliani's New York City. Friendless Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) deals drugs from his ices cart, and his parents are constantly fighting. He trades pot for therapy from psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley). Luke falls for Jeffrey's stepdaughter Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby). She treats him like a friend at first, but he wants so much more.
I wasn't sold on Josh Peck's performance at first, but it kind of grew on me. He's aimless, tired, and cynical. Ben Kingsley's character isn't much better. He spends his days smoking weed, and he rather do some groping on Mary-Kate Olsen. Olivia Thirlby plays the closest thing to a full grown adult in this movie or is she the most damaged? Director/writer Jonathan Levine brings these characters to life even though there isn't much life in these characters. It has a certain low energy charm to it all.