Movie Review: Snack Shack

If there's one type of movie that seems to resonate in pop culture for a while, it's the throwback comedy to the coming-of-age time in our lives. The last really good film in this genre was Superbad, released in 2007, as it combined the humour and crudeness of being a teenager with days before cell phones, iPods, and other current "necessities". In saying that, I had the chance to watch Snack Shack tonight, and the Paramount-produced comedy is a pretty fun tale of laughs, summer romances, and learning responsibility.

No hockey chatter here on the blog tonight as I'm opting to embrace summer more, so I'm sorry to disappoint if you came for that. There will be more of it tomorrow, but a good story combined with a few moments of insanity keeps my brain engaged. Besides, I have stuff I need to be up early for on Saturday, so it was a quiet night at HBIC Headquarters with some popcorn and a good film.

Like the review I provided for Road House a couple of weeks ago, don't expect to see the writers, producers, or actors in Snack Shack working on Oscar speeches. It's pretty well-known that goofy teenage movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Fast Times at Ridgemont High don't win major industry awards, but Snack Shack is a solid, fun movie with a good story and good performances by the main stars. Conor Sherry and Gabriel LaBelle play AJ and Moose, respectively, as the stars of the film while Mika Abdalla's Brooke is the center of their romantic interests while being a foil for AJ's insecurities. Nick Robinson, David Costabile, and the always-excellent Gillian Vigman provide solid supporting roles as well.

Snack Shack takes place in the Nebraska City, Nebraska in 1991 based off where director Adam Carter Rehmeier grew up. The movie was filmed on location in Nebraska City on a budget of just $4.5 million with secondary filming sites including Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Statesman's Park. Despite the film's modest budget, the work that went into recreating a 1991 feel in each scene can't be overlooked, and some major kudos need to be given to Production Designer Francesca Palombo, Art Director Chioma Thompson, Set Director Bezhan Nazari, and Costumers Anaïs Castaldi and Hannah Greenblatt.

Snack Shack is where we meet 14 year-olds AJ and Moose who are better known for their money-making schemes before setting their sights on buying the operating rights to the local swimming pool's snack shack. At a city council auction, they overspend by a considerable amount to win the auction, and AJ's parents are none too pleased with the "investment" made using AJ's savings that were supposed to be for college or buying a car.

As you can imagine, the two boys begin making handfuls of money at the snack shack, but their attentions are divided as Brooke, the new lifeguard, enters the picture. AJ finds out she's staying next door to him, but his complete lack of self-confidence around Brooke allows Moose an opoortunity to ask Brooke out. This, of course, throws AJ and Moose into conflict, but Brooke finally confides in AJ that Moose really isn't her type. As such, the romantic interest is rekindled, but how will the two boys handle this problem while trying to co-manage their business? Can the snack shack survive the summer?

The movie is R-rated for good reason as there are multiple scenes where language, alcohol and drug use, some sexual material, and smoking are all scene or referenced, so this isn't a movie made for younger viewers by any means. If you can handle those situations, though, there are some very good scenes in the film where AJ is forced to mature quickly based on the moment. The film isn't preachy in its messaging, however, and it tells an authentic, albeit fictional, story of one summer in Nebraska City in 1991. Overall, Adam Carter Rehmeier put together a very good film.

While Conor Sherry gives an outstanding performance as AJ and the cocky-yet-unsure Moose is well-represented by Gabriel LaBelle, it was Mika Abdalla's performance as Brooke that stole the show for me. She's the calm in AJ's twisting world, and her ability to have a leading presence while playing almost a supporting role in this film has me wondering which blockbuster she's going to land in next. She's a phenomenal actress whose natural beauty makes it hard to ignore her on the screen, and I hope Hollywood finds more roles for her.

As I mentioned, Snack Shack won't be setting records for Oscar nominations by any means, but it's a fun summer movie that should take you back to simpler days where making money and trying to find freedom from curfews were the norm. There aren't many laugh-out-loud moments in the film, but the comedy is smart as a smile will creep across your face as the story is told. It's just funny enough not to feel dramatic, but the story is well-told, Rehmeier gets incredible performances from his actors, and the nostalgia of the 1990s is felt throughout the film. In short, Snack Shack is one of those films you'll enjoy and wonder why more film-makers aren't telling these kinds of stories.

Teebz's Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Snack Shack is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Cineplex Store. The movie was produced by MRC, Paperclip Limited, and T-Street, and was released on March 15, 2024 in select theatres only by Republic Pictures, a division of Paramount Global.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!