His friendship with Luke gives him a sliver of hope and offers him an opportunity to hit the reset button on his life.  The relationship is mutually beneficial, as Dr. Squires has already made all the mistakes that lay ahead of Luke.  He gives him some very simple and strong advice: get out there, fuck several girls, and get your heart broken.  Luke takes this to heart, and pursues a girl he's had a crush on for awhile...

...Dr. Squires' stepdaughter.

Needless to say, this is where things become complicated and hilarious.  The movie is hysterically funny, insightful, fresh, and moving.  It's also a period film.  By setting the film in 1994, the film gains a sense of time and place that adds extra layers to the characters and narrative.  On one hand, the film is timeless; it deals with issues that everyone will face at some time in their life.  But by placing it in an era we didn't realize had become retro, the humor and conflict gains a specificity it wouldn't have had otherwise.  There are some amazing touches.  Blowing in NES cartridges.  A soundtrack featuring De La Soul and Notorious B.I.G.  Newly ironic jokes about Giuliani.  Etc.  Etc.  Etc.

Josh Peck gives a career making performance in this movie*.  I've never seen him on Nickelodeon because I'm not 12 years old, but I have to imagine that this movie is going to surprise anyone that's been previously exposed to him.  Ben Kingsley's work in the film is on par with his performance in Sexy Beast.  I can't think of a funnier shrink in film or TV history.  They both brought their A game, but it didn't hurt that they were struck with a kickass screenplay.  Jonathan Levine's script and film seem very personal.  I have no way to prove this, but it feels like he threw a lot of his own life on the page.  Either way, he has a strong grasp on humanity and what makes people of all ages, genders, and races tick.

Even putting all of that aside, you'll be struck almost immediately by his eye.  Every composition is beautiful, and he can sell a joke or gag better visually than most directors out there.  Ignoring issues of tone, the only comedies I've seen in the last ten years that surpass this film visually are Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, or anything by The Coen Brothers.  Levine's style never gets in the way of the jokes or the characters.  If anything, it enhances them.

I really feel like this film could become a breakout success like Juno.  Almost every guy or girl between the ages of 17 and 35 is going to shit when they see this movie.  I talked to dozens of people at Sundance that saw the film.  Everyone said it was their favorite movie in the festival.  That's not a bad start.

It's like a less pretentious version (sorry, Zach) of Garden State with a soundtrack to die for.  It has a lot to say about love and life in general without ever becoming preachy.  It's funnier than most comedies out there.  It's entertaining as hell.  This is a dynamite movie and I can't wait to see it again when Sony Pictures Classics releases it later this year.

This is a great movie.  I'm sure you'll agree. And if you missed my review of Anvil! you can read it here.

*Although, I found it odd that he chose to sport a haircut from 1994 in a film that takes place in 1994.  What a weird choice.  This is a joke for negative five people.