In 1994 New York, high school grad Luke (Peck) plans to enjoy the summer before "real life" starts in the autumn. He's raising money for university by dealing drugs out of an old ice cream cart, which might be a problem in the Giuliani era of zero-tolerance on crime. And he's also trading pot for sessions with his counsellor, Dr Squires (Kingsley), which gets complicated when he falls for Squires' step-daughter Stephanie (Thirlby). But it's Luke and Squires who are kindred spirits, both unsure where they're going in life.

Anchored by a hilariously offbeat performance from Kingsley and a Peck's relatively sympathetic point of view, this film is infused by a dark sense of humour and intriguing observations of how people affect each others' lives. Kingsley and Peck make a terrific double act as two very different men who discover a commonality in their obsessions with sex and drugs and their frustration that the new mayor is trying to sweep real life out of sight.

Actually, everyone in this film is a mess, from the more-experienced Stephanie and Squires' icy trophy wife (Janssen) to Luke's constantly bickering parents (Balsam and Wohl), plus a pothead ex-popstar (Adams), a needy hippie (Olson) and a tetchy dealer (Method Man). Yes, this is one of those American indie movies in which everyone is so quirky it almost hurts, and the dialog is almost too clever to actually be something real people might say.

Writer-director Levine wallows a bit in his witty premise, indulging in his gleeful willingness to touch on taboo issues as witnessed in the twisted complications he invents for his characters' lives. But like Juno, the cast is so good that the script's contrivances aren't really a problem. And even if no one in this film is very likeable, there are surprising moments of astuteness in the way it looks at optimism (do we dwell on the dopeness or the wackness?) and tenacity in the face of whatever life throws at you.

themes, language, drugs, sexuality

27.May.08