“Snack Shack” by writer-director Adam Rehmeier takes place in Nebraska in the Summer of 1991. It’s a teen comedy that has a comparison to the works of John Hughes and Judd Apatow. However, it lacks the quirkiness of the former’s work and the sugary sweet raunchiness of the latter’s. I felt “Snack Shack” was more akin to the litany of films Cameron Crowe scripted, like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Almost Famous,” where comedy is peppered with the harshness of real life while being wrapped in a toasty blanket of nostalgia.
A Story Akin to the Cameron Crowe Scripted Pictures
Teenagers and best friends A.J. (Conor Sherry) and Moose (Gabriel LaBelle) spend every moment thinking of ways to make big money while being randomly bullied by seniors and partying with Shane (Nick Robinson), a laid-back guy in his twenties who’s an Operation Desert Storm veteran and runs the local pool. As Summer begins, Shane tells them about the Snack Shack, the pool’s concession stand, that the Parks and Rec Department rents to the highest bidder yearly. Dreaming of its massive profits, A.J. and Moose win the highest bid and immediately start making cash from the Shack. When Brooke (Mika Abdalla) moves to town and becomes a pool lifeguard, A.J. and Moose fall for her. Will Brooke’s arrival destroy A.J. and Moose’s friendship and wreck their business?
“Snack Shack” really sunk a spear of nostalgia deep in my heart. This is mostly because of the spectacular work of Cinematographer Jean-Phillipe Bernier. He’s no stranger to styling films set in the past, having also worked on “Summer of 84” and the retro-futuristic epic “Turbo Kid.” His focus on vivid lighting, endless rural roads, and steamy night locales brought back so many memories. It felt like sneaking away at night with friends to share a joint, hoping your parents didn’t smell it on you when you got home, and riding in the back of a pickup truck in Summer. The metal burned your skin as the wind blasted you, holding on for dear life whenever a wheel hit a pothole.
I must admit that I wasn’t enjoying the film’s first few minutes because it seemed to be going through the same motions as many films before. But once it settled in, it won me over with its focus on memorable characters and relationships. The main characters, A.J. and Moose, are total opposites but best friends. Had this film been made in the the1980s, A.J. would have been played by Anthony Michael Hal and Moose by James Spader. A.J.’s the likable of the pair, with strict parents (his father’s a <gasp> Judge!) that rule the house in a draconian manner. With allergies to seemingly everything and a painfully shy manner, you find yourself rooting for A.J. as he pines for Brooke. Actor Conor Sherry imbues A.J. with wonderful warmth.
Aiming For Something Worth More Than Its Teen Comedy Antics
Moose is one of those kids who seems to be a 30-year-old trapped in a teen’s body. He’s fast-talking, street-smart, smokes cigarettes incessantly, and curses so much that if George Carlin were still alive, Moose would give him a few more words to add to his “Seven Dirty Words” list. A.J. and Moose have a great dynamic, constantly bouncing get-rich schemes off each other at a furious pace. Sometimes, watching their scenes was like watching “His Girl Friday”. The dialogue machine-gunning between them was nearly too fast to process. Occasionally (and hilariously) throughout the film, they start fighting for no reason, with a strict rule of no throat-punching that they never seem to follow.
Brooke and A.J.’s relationship develops throughout the film, and it’s fun to watch. Brooke is the textbook definition of “the girl from the wrong side of the tracks”. And A.J. finds her captivating. What straight guy doesn’t identify with A.J.? We all had our Brooke when we were teens. That girl you felt was the most beautiful girl in the world, and no other girl existed. Shane, an older guy who is A.J. and Moose’s friend, is like a big brother to A.J. He’s not an awful brother like Chet in “Weird Science.” But he’s the kind of older brother who sneaks you into R-rated films, gives you a steady stream of Playboys, beer, and joints, and offers excellent life advice, too.
The scenes with Shane and A.J. are always lovely. Surprisingly, the titular Snack Shack is a minor backdrop in the film. Sure, there are some hilarious scenes when the boys are working at the Shack. But much like life, the truly great stuff happens. When they’re not at work, a love triangle develops between A.J., Moose, and Brooke. This is where the actors shine, perfectly conveying the situation’s jealousy, animosity, sadness, and confusion. What I loved most about the film is that there are moments of real gravitas for the characters. This could have been just another silly teen comedy. Instead, “Snack Shack” aims for something much deeper. Rehmeier reminds the characters (and us) that life isn’t perfect. But when it’s great, it’s impressive enough to help us forget the awful parts.
“Snack Shack” is now playing in select theaters across the U.S.
