Snack Shack (2024) User Reviews

I miss when comedies weren't afraid

[FeastMode · 7/10 · 7 March 2024]

I miss when comedies weren't afraid of offending anyone. I miss when comedies didn't try to teach me a lesson. I miss when comedies accurately showed how guys act and talk around each other.

I forgot how much I missed them until I watched Snack Shack. Now while this can be described as a 90s throwback comedy, it does a great job of celebrating bro culture without celebrating some of the creepy stuff from 80s/90s comedies, like peeping on women.

Having said that, some of the vulgar language and jokes had me cracking up. It reminds me of so many conversations I've had with my friends. The situations and movie overall are pretty hilarious, with a few highly memorable parts.

Lead actor Conor Sherry kills it. He does a great job with the comedy, with the perfect balance of being a dork without being a wuss. And there are a few serious moments where his performance made me say, "Wow." I think we'll be seeing more of him.

A couple things hold this back from being an instant comedy classic. Later in the movie, it focuses less on comedy and more on drama, both romantic and non. Most of it is done well, but there are very few laughs in the last half hour. And some of the romance drama feels manufactured, forced and unnecessary.

I still had a good time with this movie and encourage people to support R-rated comedies. We don't get nearly enough of them.

(1 viewing, early fan screening 3/6/2024)

Irreverent and heartfelt coming of age story

[agreenfox · 8/10 · 19 March 2024]

The first act of this film set it up to be this obnoxious buddy comedy about two scheming capitalists, but the story morphs into a brilliant portrayal of growing up over a summer.

The movie is not as funny as it would like to be at certain points, but that doesn't matter. The strength of the script is in the delivery and the characterization of the two leads and family life.

The conflict can seem a bit silly at first, but then you get it when you realize what life was like at 14. Everything matters until nothing does, and then you fall apart. These actors are admirable, and I respect the fact that they actually look like teenagers.

The script has more f-bombs than Scarface, and it gets loud and obnoxious, and that's what growing up is like. Cannot wait to see more from this director.

Easily a Modern Classic

[jakepassolt · 8/10 · 16 March 2024]

The Snack Shack like a modern Sandlot.

This movie is about two best friends and their schemes and shenanigans over a summer in Nebraska in 1991. One friend is the schemer who always has an idea and a plan for what to do next, and the other friend is the more level headed but very ambitious go getter. Together they execute these risky plans that might get them into trouble with their parents but venture to make money and have fun over the summer.

At it's core it might sound generic and formulaic for a coming of age movie but it shines due to the amount of heart and soul poured into it.

The acting is expertly done. The script allows for campy, comedy, and realism to flow through the characters. The jokes land and the physical comedy is well timed.

The movie is also able to juggle varying tone quite well and keeps the overall pacing solid One con I will say is that I don't know what the overall theme of the movie was supposed to be, or if there was supposed to be one.

Nevertheless the Snack Shack is a very heartfelt coming of age comedy that clearly had a lot of hard work and heart put into it.

A little gem

[AfricanBro · 20 March 2024]

This the second movie this year that pleasantly surprised me by how good it is despite lacking any hype. The first was "Scrambled," which, while not groundbreaking, I found pretty enjoyable. Snack Shack is the latest one; I recall sitting in the nearly empty theater, thinking it deserved a larger audience than just 2 guys. I have a feeling that years from now, these films will be regarded as some of the hidden gems from the 2020s. We'll wonder why they weren't more widely discussed at the time.

Pretty chaotic start, I think hectic's a better word. The movie's premise pretty fun, two 14yr olds trying successfully come up with successful get-rich-quick schemes. It's not like a lot of movies made recently; the first half of the movie reminds me of the early 2010's when a bunch of R rated movies were being made.

But it's also not just silly fun; it's a compelling coming-of-age story. While it starts off as a fun ride, the emotional depth it offers is unexpected yet satisfying. Gabriel LaBelle reminded me of Jon berthal at times. The acting overall was impressive, and I loved the casting. Although we didn't see much of the other kids' parents, it allowed us to forge stronger connections with the characters present. Overall, the characters are easy to become invested in.

The movie slows down a bit in the middle, wasn't feel good all the way. In hindsight, scenes like A. J. walking alone earlier in the film seem like subtle hints of what was to come. Given that the story is from AJ's perspective, it's understandable that it doesn't maintain a consistently upbeat atmosphere throughout because it's not super fun vibes from him.

The movie takes on a somber tone at times, which is when I began to notice its length. While the start was quick-paced, funny and full of energy, the film gradually evolves into a personal and heartfelt coming-of-age story. The second half leans more towards drama, resulting in a slower pace, but I didn't mind it. Instead, it added depth and emotional complexity, creating a little rollercoaster of emotion.

The movie is predictable In away, particularly potential romantic conflicts with new characters. However, this predictability didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the film for me. While it doesn't revolutionize storytelling, its nostalgic depiction of a bygone era reminded me of "Licorice Pizza". And just like that movie, which I loved despite differing opinions from others, this film effectively transported me to its time period. Unlike "Licorice Pizza," though, this movie isn't as solely character-driven; there's a clear plotline driving the narrative forward.

I feel like the message of the movie is don't let girls get between you and your boy. I laughed cause it reminded me of a 30second clip of Tupac interview about "hoes get horny" you can find on YouTube.

Anyway, I enjoyed it, felt nostalgic. It wasn't what I expected, I saw the trailer play once maybe a month ago and all things would lead you to believe it's a comedy. However, it has a more serious undertone and more emotional depth than you'd expect. So I love it and definitely recommend, just not as a comedy.

Loved a lot of it, but then it felt off sadly

[destroyerwod · 7/10 · 6 April 2024]

So when i saw the trailer of this movie i was like "WOOOAAA they dared?" Like really this movie follow well the style of the 90s. For instance the characters are portrayed as smokers and even tough i was born 85 and only made it to teen in the late 90s i do recall a lot of teenagers smoking. So this felt accurate and they were not afraid to show that yes teenagers smoked then. Never in the movie is it portrayed as "cool" or something you "have to do" and as a non smoker i never understood the point of cigarette at all, but im glad the movie kept the accuracy and was not afraid of showing it off. We should not erase history.

As for the rest, some of it was a bit over the top, like sure the 90s were more lenient, i do recall buying loto tickets for my mom at the store when i was like 10 (now its 18+) so i guess betting is also accurate but the whole making beer and such... these kids were very efficient to say the least. A lot more then i recall my friends and i ever been.

Ok ok enough of speaking if the movie is accurate or not, i think it was. It did a good job capturing the 90s.

I had a lot of fun with the romance aspect and the bro rivalry and such. Sadly in the second half the movie got a bit darker and its where it kinda loss me. Its just it happened out of nowhere and somehow shifted the dymanic of the movie.

I personally watched this as a "raunchy comedy" and was looking for a lot of "feel good". I miss these movies since the stupid woke era took on, so this look right like in my alley and for the most part it was, but then the movie decided to become more of a drama than a raunchy comedy and it just kinda came out of nowhere so it felt a bit "meh".

Without spoiling i could say the movie just dropped the ball in the last act for me and i didn't like its conclusion.

But overall i enjoyed the majority of it so i can't really say i didn't had a good time. Maybe that was the point of the director/screen writer, to make us feel uncomfortable but its not what i was looking for based on the trailer. So if the movie would had gotten an 8 out of 10 prior to this specific part, i have to lower it to a 7. And its one of those were i would even go down to 6.5 but i bump it to 7 because i feel its better than a 6.

But i was disapointed at the end to say the least. I like when movies are feel good. I like when movies give me the escapism of my boring real life. This being set in the 90s and all, even tough characters were a tad older (for today) compare to me, i was still looking for an ideal version of my teenhood. A teenhood i sadly never had.

A Passable, One-Time Watch

[aaravsengar · 7/10 · 4 April 2024]

Just finished watching "Snack Shack," and my initial reaction? Well, it's over. Not much to write home about, but let's break it down.

Starting with the positives, Connor Sherry's acting as the main character stood out. He brought a certain charm to the role that made the viewing experience somewhat enjoyable. As for the rest of the cast, they were okay-ish. A few jokes landed for some giggles, but nothing particularly memorable.

Now, onto the negatives. The age of the characters as told in the movie just didn't match up. They certainly didn't look like 14-year-olds, and neither did the girl portrayed in the film look like a teenager. This lack of believability hindered the emotional connection with the characters; I found it hard to feel empathy or sympathy for anyone. The character development was very less so it was hard for me to feel emotional for any of them. The storyline is pretty straightforward and doesn't offer anything particularly new or innovative. It follows a formula we've seen many times before.

The length of the movie was okay for me, although I think it could have been trimmed down to around 1 hour and 40 minutes. A shorter runtime might have made for a tighter, more engaging story.

So, my overall review? I'd give "Snack Shack" a 7 out of 10. It's a one-time watch that can provide decent time-pass entertainment. It's slightly above average, hence the 7 rating.

Don't get me wrong it's not a bad movie by any means it's just not a movie that you will remember for a long time.. It did a good job as a One time watch so yeah I can definitely recommend it to watch it for some decent timepass.

Worth watch

[sathyaaero · 7/10 · 4 April 2024]

During 1991 in Nebraska, two friends makes money by running a snack shop with their own beer recipe along side the swimming pool during their summer holidays. Love comes in another form which really tests their relationship!!

Really loved the way this film was narrated. The director/Writer took a simple story but in the screenplay, he has really structured it well. Didn't get bored at any place. The core emotion of this film was "friendship". The writer test this relationship with love, jealousy betrayal and loss.

For a drama film like this, mainly the lead actors have to deliver their performances in such a way as to captivate the audience within the film. And yes, this film has such a crew!!. The actors who played the role of AJ and Moose have given excellent performances. They have really lived in their characters which made it even more compelling for the audience to stick to this film.

The background music was very nice. It was interesting from the first scene. But it fades a bit towards the end.

Cinematography was excellent. The scenes were interestingly shot. The work of the cinematographer is truly amazing.

Undoubtedly a good film.

Nostalgic, hilarious, and moving

[jeff-gibson-835-273379 · 9/10 · 17 March 2024]

I knew very little about this movie before sitting down to watch it, I saw a trailer a while back and made a mental note to check it out. I. So happy I decided to watch it. You can't help but enjoy the performances of the two leads, it's easy to believe that they are best friends by the camaraderie they share. Excellent job by the actors - I didn't know either of them, but can't wait to see what they do next. Their bond is the backbone of the story - along with a great per by a young lady (also unknown to me) - combined, these actors take you back to the 1990s, and revisit a slightly more innocent time. There is a lot of fun with period references, but if you don't know them you still enjoy the ride.

There is a bit a formula in the script, but really, it just plain works. I was not the only person in the audience who was laughing out loud many, many times, and then wiping aside tears at extremely moving final scenes. This movie is one that is worthy of your time - don't miss it.

Eerily similar to The Kings of Summer 2013

[jdorego · 6/10 · 9 April 2024]

This movie has some very eery similarites to The Kings of Summer from 2013. In TKOS you have two male friends who want to get away from their parents so they build a house in the forest. In SS they open up a snack shack at the water park. In TKOS a girl named Kelly comes between the two friends. In SS a girl named Brooke comes between the two friends. In TKOS the third wheel friend Biaggio almost dies from a snake bite. In SS the third wheel friend dies in a car accident. I enjoyed both movies. The young actors are all excellent. The stories even with the similarities are enjoyable and I recommend both movies.

I loved this a lot!

[UniqueParticle · 9/10 · 7 March 2024]

The other reviewer has a phenomenal description so I'll just put some other thoughts. I was blessed to see an early screening a few hours ago, I had to bike home after a long day that was satisfying and ironically there was bikes in multiple scenes. I absolutely love the leads especially Gabriel Labelle known previously from Fabelmans by Stephen Spielberg so no wonder he's shining with great talent in this fun comedy/romance/drama! Snack Shack has a wonderful classic vibe, great business ethics packed in, buddy vibes, partying, charming romance, and just great entertainment throughout that I hope when it's out gets appreciated.

A great summer watch

[shashank_1501 · 7/10 · 13 April 2024]

A coming-of-age comedy of two inseparable teenager who desperately want to make something out of their summer vacation of '91.

A. J. And Moose, are two best friends and like every other teen movie, not popular in school. In order to avoid some boring job that their parents would impose on them during summer vacation, they rent out a shack in the community swimming pool which quickly becomes the hot spot among the locals.

Filled with great moments, this 110 mins. Heartfelt drama is a fun ride that has adventure, comedy, romance and brotherhood.

The chemistry between A. J. & Moose is too good that has to go through the test of time by the arrival of Brooke, A. J.'s hot neighbor who's also working in the pool as a lifeguard.

A perfect watch for upcoming summer.

These are the kinds of movies we need to SHOW UP for! Support them in theaters!

[aeknapik · 10/10 · 16 March 2024]

Another hit from the energetic Adam Rehmeier! Loved it's fierce humor and spot-on look into the 90s.

The screen presence here is incredible. If you loved Gabriel Labelle in The Fablemans, you're surely going to fall in love with his energy in Snack Shack.

Haven't seen Conor Sherry in anything, but this was such a great first impression of his talent. The friendship and businesses between these two boys was so thrilling to watch.

I absolutely loved Adam's previous film Dinner In America, and this did not disappoint one bit.

I really hope that everyone gives this a film in chance. If it's in theaters near you, go see it!!! Support these kinds of films so we can get more films of this level.

Everything a summer movie should be

[ack-56-749793 · 7/10 · 1 May 2024]

Genuine, heartfelt, funny and a true representation of youth. I wish more films were like this. Makes you nostalgic for a time you never lived

...Is all I wanted to say but that's not enough for IMDB. A stellar performance from the entire cast. Kind of forgot I was watching a movie. The dialogue is on point and yes, for those of a wary heart, there's a lot of cussing but unsurprisingly that's how kids speak

This movie could so easily have been produced with all the gloss of Hollywood, fraught with drama, dumbed down, high-stakes, PG-rated just for the money but it remains true to so many people's lived experiences. It's a movie not afraid of showing the rough edges of both comedy and drama

I wish film makers would dare to write and produce movies like this. It would certainly bring me back to the cinema, because movies like this one should be enjoyed on the big screen.

A mixed up mess

[ben-snooks · 5/10 · 11 April 2024]

Not horrible but the dialogue and characters are a bit all over the place. Teenagers didn't talk and act like that in 1991. The two main characters deliver dialogue like they have no time to breathe. To me the teenagers seemed to be modern teenagers just pretending to be in the 1990's and kind of trying to wear 90's clothes. Kids in 1991 were into video games and playing sport like basketball, neither of which happen in this film. Where's the slap bands, cabbage patch dolls, roller blades, skateboards, Nintendo, Sega, video arcades, multiplex cinemas, model cars, fast food etc? These things were popular for 14 year olds in 1991. There's more 1990's culture in Terminator 2 than in this film. The early 1990's were much grungier. RayBans weren't 1991, Oakleys were early 1990's sunglasses in the US. The story is kind of ok I suppose but this film is no Napoleon Dynamite. This film needed less dialogue and more time to breathe. More actual acting, smart jokes and character development would have helped.

Solid and Enjoyable Film

[lee-09480 · 7/10 · 22 April 2024]

I decided to watch this film as it is categorized as a comedy on IMDB and had piqued my interest due to its high rating and positive reviews. Upon viewing the cover image and reading some of these reviews, I expected "Snack Shack" to resemble films like "Superbad" and "American Pie." However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite distinct.

While it is tagged as a comedy, and indeed has its humorous moments, "Snack Shack" leans more towards a blend of comedy, coming-of-age, and '90s teen drama. It's hard to pin down its exact niche, but overall, it's a wonderful little gem of a film. It's refreshing to see a movie that doesn't push a political agenda or engage in virtue signaling, focusing instead on a lighthearted, quintessentially '90s story about two teenage boys trying to earn some money and win over a girl.

A raw and honest coming-of-age comedy where the air of authenticity makes its abrasive characters palatable

[IonicBreezeMachine · 7/10 · 7 May 2024]

Set in Nebraska City, Nebraska 1991, teenagers A. J. Carter (Conor Sherry) and his scheming friend Moose Miller (Gabriel LaBelle) try their hand at various get rich quick schemes from placing bets at off track betting parlors to brewing their own beer to sell to other high schoolers. After their parents put a stop to their questionable activities the two empty their savings accounts in order to place an exorbitant bid on the snack shack at the community pool as A. J. now has to pay back the money to avoid being sent to military school. Over the course of the summer A. J. experiences romance, tragedy, and struggle.

Snack Shack is the sophomore mainstream directorial effort of Adam Carter Rehmeier following his 2020 film Dinner in America. The film is a semi-autobiographical film with Rehmeier having based significant parts of the film off his own experience manning a pool shack in his youth. While I found the film to be an acquired tasted due to its purposefully abrasive characters, there is an unmistakable air of authenticity to the film that once I emersed myself in did win me over.

Being set at the start of the 90s, Snack Shack has an air of similar films from the decade that preceded (Fast Times at Ridgemont High and the like) or even more modern ones such as Adventureland. Both Conor Sherry and Gabriel LaBelle give strong performances and have good chemistry as A. J. and Moose, and while their introduction doesn't initially present them as the most likable of characters it does feel true to form in that phase of brash overconfidence that adolescent boys often go through as they approach adulthood. Despite having a heavy focus on shenanigans and risky behavior the movie does also showcase the humanizing aspects of the characters particularly regarding the major milestones of first loves or an untimely tragedy that carry strong weight.

While I didn't enjoy Snack Shack as much as some similar films in this genre (such as The Way Way Back or Adventureland) I did appreciate the film for its authentic presentation that captured not only the look of its time and place but also the feel. The characters are flawed but human and there's a strong core to the movie once you get to know it beyond its slightly abrasive surface.

R-Rated Comedies Are Back!

[cruzkontrol-73728 · 10/10 · 18 March 2024]

An R-rated comedy with an incredible amount of heart. The performances are top notch and really bring you into their world of a summer in Nebraska circa 1991.

The laughs come fast and furious right from the beginning of the film establishing the brother-like friendship between AJ and Moose and from that moment, the viewer is locked into the story.

The unexpected twist toward the end of the film really elevates everything from a simple feel-good story about two friends, summer romance to an absolutely complete movie.

The chemistry between the entire cast is next level and absolutely pops on the screen, bringing you along for the journey.

Can't wait to see it again.

Wow! this movie was not made in 1991?

[subxerogravity · 8/10 · 17 March 2024]

For some reason, I was skeptical about the movie's claims of being a throwback of the early 90s, but I have to admit that skepticism walked out the door real quick from the very beginning of the movie. I'm guessing this is what Nebraska was like in 1991 but I can tell you 1991 was like this for a lot of teens at that time. On top of that despite how the tone in comedy lends itself well to that late 80s and early 90s teen genre that flourished at the time, the coming-of-age story was timeless.

Snack Shack is a well-done movie. Charming in its nostalgia and warming in its character development. Everything was so alive and it made for a great movie to watch.

Kids, this is what a "Movie" is

[McMurphy1262 · 9/10 · 6 April 2024]

No "box-checking," no propaganda, no agenda, and no studio execs poisoning the vision.

Just writer (AND director) putting his blood and guts into telling a good, entertaining, and impactful story.

Also, no hand-holding or dumbing down.

Nothing is forced, and the dialogue actually sounds like the characters (as opposed to every character sounding like their 20 yr old, silver-spoon, nepo-baby writer that has no life experience, like so many "films" now).

The actors take it to the next level, and it really amplifies the experience.

And very true to the time. Gonna hit extra hard for the 90's gen.

A rare gem.

Not very good

[rscjsrv · 4/10 · 18 March 2024]

My biggest, most glaringly obvious problem with this film is the fact that we are supposed to believe these kids are 14 years old. These guys are old enough to be college graduates. Why? Even if they said they were 17 or something it really wouldn't change the plot of the movie too much. Really hard to watch when they tell me these grown ass men are children.

I watched this movie because I wanted to see something in theaters and there weren't many options, and this had good reviews. In my research however, I failed to notice that at the time there were only 9 user reviews on IMDb which is not a large enough sample to really get a good idea of how a movie is.

The laughs in this movie were few and far between. The morals were off base albeit probably being closer to how people tend to treat each other in reality. There's a big plot twist near the end of the movie that's just supposed to fix everything and it really just felt like lazy writing.

Not a movie I'll be watching again or recommending to others.

Don't hesitate! It's SO worth seeing!

[hikergirl15 · 10/10 · 18 March 2024]

A teenage coming-of-age film that really has so much going for it. First love, teen entrepreneurial endeavors, best friends fighting over the girl, and even the sadness of death. Conor Sherry (AJ) was fantastic and nailed his part. I think we will see a lot more from him and I am excited about that. Really liked Gabriel Labelle (Moose) and Mika Abdalla (Brooke) as well. The amount of cussing was a bit much for me but, all in all, loved the film. Having grown up in middle America, the teenage angst was very real! That said, the scheming and chemistry really drew me in and I was surprised at the range of emotions I saw and felt.

A Nostalgic Flick Worth Watching

[boscarino-20600 · 9/10 · 18 March 2024]

Snack Shack offers a refreshing departure from the typical blockbuster movie. This movie took me back (way back) to my younger days. And yes, there was drinking, cussing, and even a fist fight, or two. So if you're uncomfortable with hearing kids drop the f-bomb, and other realities of life, you may want to skip this one.

Central to the film's success are solid performances delivered by the two main characters. There was great chemistry between the two young actors. Keeping my attention these days without the occasional explosion or CGI effect isn't an easy feat, but kudos to the entire cast for doing just that.

Loved it!

[pcwwwbd · 10/10 · 18 March 2024]

My husband and I just attended the screening of Snack Shack and we really loved it! It has everything from comedy to friendships and small town living in middle America in the 90s. The movie was reminiscent of the 80s films such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Breakfast Club that we grew up watching. It's a great coming of age film! All the actors did a great job, the characters all seemed so believable! We were super impressed with Conor Sherry's performance as AJ, we enjoyed watching the dynamics between the different relationships with friends and family. The mom was hilarious in the scene when AJ is trying to negotiate a later curfew and she went into auctioneer mode. Overall we really enjoyed the film.

Overhyped, corny and lazy.

[rozilinthorsten · 2/10 · 21 March 2024]

This film attempted too hard to capture the essence of the 90s but fell short. Very boring storyline that didn't know which direction to take, it was an inconsistent mess. The abrupt and seemingly purposeless tragic death towards the end adds little value or meaning to the narrative, failing to tie together any significant themes. The excessive cursing, while not inherently problematic, feels forced and contrived, aiming for edginess but ultimately coming off as inauthentic. If you dislike corny tiktok script writing, avoid seeing this. It's like "Stepbrothers," but extremely poorly made. It's reminiscent of the work of an inexperienced teenager rather than a polished production.

Snack Shack - Best Movie I've Seen In A LONG Time!

[visionarylife · 10/10 · 20 March 2024]

Wow! What a Pleasant surprise! This coming-of-age movie had me laughing and crying! There's a bit of cussing like real people figuring out life. But that's all! No cringy crap like sex scenes or nudity. The acting of these young newcomers is so honest and real! The story is not just a bunch of teenagers having a fun summer fling, but it includes real-world issues that real people deal with including real emotions that honestly brought tears to my eyes. It was all done So well! This one will be up there with the iconic teen films we all remember and love like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Can't Buy Me Love and Easy A. And with a budget of under $5 million and Lots of heart, this one is gonna rake in the dough, just like the guys in this movie! I Highly recommend Snack Shack! Go see it with friends and remember the goofy fun times and the heart of a teenager dealing with real life. 5 Stars!