SNACK SHACK -- 1990s R-Rated Fun in Bloated but Passable Teen Comedy

Review by Camden Ferrell

​Snack Shack is the newest movie from writer/director Adam Rehmeier, following up his 2020 Sundance film Dinner in America. This film also features Gabriel LaBelle, who broke out in 2022 thanks to his role in Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans. At nearly two hours, this 1990’s comedy is entertaining enough but can feel overly bloated and full of genre clichés.
 
AJ and Moose are two best friends who don’t always make the best choices together. As summer comes around, they embark on their newest suspect endeavor, operating a snack shack at the local pool. After realizing they are in over their heads, these best friends aim to make a profit all while navigating friendship, romance, and the other woes of adolescence. This setup has all the elements of a classic coming of age story, and the 90’s setting does give the film an air of nostalgia that keeps the film simple and grounded.
 
Rehmeier’s script is a good enough foundation for the movie. It isn’t the most original in its execution and dialogue, and it relies heavily on tropes that have been done before. The character archetypes are nothing new, so the movie can suffer from feeling too familiar to what came before. Its attempts at comedy are persistent throughout, and they mostly earn mild chuckles for the most part, but there isn’t much that necessarily blows me away comedy wise.

The acting in this movie, like everything else, is anywhere from passable to solid. Conor Sherry and Garbiel LaBelle lead the movie as AJ and Moose, respectively. One thing that is undeniable is that these two have impressive chemistry together. Even when the movie has shortcomings, their genuinely believable friendship always shines through. That being said, the duo works best when they’re together, and the results are mixed otherwise. LaBelle definitely excels in his role and knows how to play up the charisma of his character without entering embarrassingly exaggerated territory. Mika Abdalla and Nick Robinson also have two decent performances that supplement the leading duo.
 
While I mentioned LaBelle’s ability to be charismatic without being too exaggerated, it definitely feels like the movie could benefit from that same philosophy. It plays up all of its execution in a way that subverts the earnest messages and tones it aims for. It’s the type of filmmaking one would expect from a hastily made sophomoric comedy, not one from a filmmaker like Rehmeier who has an otherwise heartfelt attempt with this movie. In addition to this, the movie could afford to shave a handful of scenes since the runtime becomes quite apparent by the film’s conclusion.
 
Despite its flaws, Snack Shack takes you back to the 90’s with a decent and entertaining story even if it feels like it had the full capabilities to be something more. Most people will enjoy the nostalgic vibes and camaraderie of its leads, but those looking for something they’ve never seen before will likely walk away slightly disappointed.
 
Snack Shack is in theaters March 15.

Rating: 3/5