“Snack Shack” fits firmly into the coming-of-age genre, but it has a tremendous sense of place in 1991 Nebraska City, Neb., and its rhythms are just a bit different from the norm. By the end, writer-director Adam Rehmeier has made this type of story feel fresh again.
The trailers make it seem like a raunch-com, and that’s not totally a bad thing (last year’s “No Hard Feelings” proves that genre lingers on). But I’m thrilled to report that it’s more than that – certainly the best swimming pool-set Teen Summer of Discontent movie since 2013’s “The Way Way Back.” Also in its favor, I wasn’t thinking of “The Way Way Back” while watching this one; it’s a close call as to which film is better.
Listen to the money talk
Before branching in various directions that befit the teen experience, the initial appeal of “Snack Shack” is Gabriel LaBelle’s Moose, who would almost be annoying except that his entrepreneurial spirit is so genuine that it’s contagious. He has one of those friendships with main character A.J. (Conor Sherry) where they beat the crap out of each other but are “a package deal” for employment and projects and schemes. Running the neighborhood pool’s Snack Shack is their latest endeavor.
“Snack Shack” (2024)
Director: Adam Rehmeier
Writer: Adam Rehmeier
Stars: Conor Sherry, Gabriel LaBelle, Mika Abdalla
Mika Abdalla enters as Brooke, the slightly older cousin of the Girl Next Door (the ignored Leah, played by April Clark). Brooke calls A.J. “Shit Pig,” though not entirely without affection. Don’t think about the characters’ ages for too long. Supposedly A.J. and Moose are 14; the three main actors are in their 20s.
I think Rehmeier (“Dinner in America”) should’ve aged the boys up to 18 – and Brooke to about 20 – once he landed this cast. Also from the “minor quibble” department: One of the bullies pronounces Mike Rozier’s name wrong. I lived in Lincoln around this time – and was slightly younger than the movie’s teens – and trust me, no one in Nebraska is pronouncing any Cornhusker legend’s name wrong.
On the other hand, references to Runza and Ak-Sar-Ben Arena add appropriate flavor, as does the fact that “Snack Shack” was entirely filmed in Nebraska City. Even before confirming it, it’s obvious Rehmeier is from Nebraska City. Details certainly come from his own life (as A.J., natch), such as sneezing when mowing the lawn and odd behaviors around the house.
A.J.’s mom (Gillian Vigman) performs like an auctioneer, and his dad (David Costabile) the bidder, when determining their son’s curfew time of 10:15. A.J.’s sister (Jean Gentry) is head of the dance team, yet in a “Napoleon Dynamite”-style slice of raw absurdity, we see she doesn’t have particularly good moves.
Some magic with the realism
Granted, when we get to Abdalla’s Brooke, we’re into Hollywood fantasy land. “Snack Shack” has no qualms about going older and more attractive than would likely be the case, but I can’t deny that A.J.’s and Moose’s reactions and feelings toward this hot new lifeguard ring true.
One or two magical realism elements are allowed given all the grounding Rehmeier achieves overall, including the big brother type of friendship (and protection from bullies) provided to our leads by Shane (Nick Robinson). Shane knows how to navigate life in basic ways – like putting on an impressive air toward adults – even though he mainly enjoys beer and camping.
“Snack Shack” gradually shifts from a comedy about young entrepreneurs (itself a refreshing plotline) and becomes quite emotional. It pulls off little things so well, and its greatness sneaks up. The relationship between A.J. and his dad is seemingly shallow, but ultimately it’s not.
Rehmeier delivers a meditation on how the present is there one moment, and then it’s the past. He crystalizes this in an amazingly simple and beautiful shot toward the end. Those fake-out trailers are good marketing in a way, because “Snack Shack” carves a surprising path from raunch-com to heartfelt, reflective gem.