‘Snack Shack’ review: Dir. Adam Rehmeier (2024)

Writer and director Adam Rehmeier accidentally started a cult when he released Dinner in America. The film caught the attention and admiration of everybody that watched it and has slowly been building up a strong cult following. Hopes have been high that his new film, Snack Shack, will continue some of that Dinner in America magic. The good news is that Rehmeier has indeed managed to make another cracker, though it’s not quite what one might expect.

Dinner in America was unashamedly punk, and although Snack Shack does have elements of teenage rebellion, it is a more gentle story. Inspired by aspects of Rehmeier’s own upbringing, Snack Shack is set in the summer of Nebraska City, 1991. The story follows two best friends, AJ (Conor Sherry) and Moose (Gabriel LaBelle), as they spend the summer running their local swimming pool’s snack shack. Along the way the pair are faced with a multitude of new obstacles for them to navigate, including the new girl next door, Brooke (Mica Abdalla). As they battle their way through the landmines of adolescence, the duo must remain united to keep their business and friendship together. 

Although the promotional materials for Snack Shack allude to a new era of sex comedy akin to Superbad, the sources of its influences are from much further back. Whilst there is plenty of comedy laced throughout, Snack Shack aligns better to the coming-of-age movies of the nineties. Watching Snack Shack conjures up the same nostalgia as sitting down to watch My Girl, Now and Then, or even Stand By Me. This is a film that captures the essence of a forgotten youth and does so beautifully. That Rehmeier was able to film in his former home town, and shoot scenes in the same locales that he experienced some of the narrative beats in, helps to further grind in those nostalgic feelings. The authenticity of these moments on screen shine through and ensure that viewers fully connect to the story.

It isn’t just the story that the viewer needs to vibe with however, but the characters too. In AJ and Moose, there are echoes of Dinner in America’s Patty and Simon, which will please fans of that film. The pair are not carbon copies, but merely share some spiritual aspects. For example, like Patty, AJ is the more reserved and timid of the two, and like Simon, Moose is much more loud and abrasive. More than being Patty and Simon 2.0, AJ and Moose make a fantastic representation of the male friend duos that were popular in early 90s fiction. The two are a mixture of all the greats: Beavis and Butthead, Wayne and Garth, with a sprinkling of Bill and Ted thrown in for good measure. These types of male friendships have fallen away somewhat in recent years and it is great to see them back.

Everything about Snack Shack screams endless summer and youth. Rehmeier’s film feels like a genuine time capsule, but one that doesn’t exclude modern audiences. Adolescence is universal. It is something that everyone experiences, and no matter the time setting, the themes explored will always connect with an audience. Rehmeier manages to connect with the audience even further by writing dialogue that feels genuine for the age of his characters. These words are brought to life perfectly by LaBelle and Sherry. A prime example is during Snack Shacks opening moments. AJ and Moose are walking down the street and Moose is talking a mile a minute in the way that only the young have the energy for. It sells the two actors as authentic and helps them pass as tennagers even though both are in their twenties. 

There is also great support from Nick Robinson as older boy Shane, who both friends admire. Although a peripheral and supporting character, Shane gets a compelling story arc that helps shift the tone of Snack Shack from fun and wacky, to bittersweet. It is Shane’s character that is vital in setting Snack Shack apart from some vapid teen comedies, and it is the weight of events that are tied to him that will see this film sustain itself in the same ways that My Girl and Stand By Me have. Then there is Mika Abdalla as the girl who threatens to break-up the brotherhood. Rehmeier has taken the time to give her a personality, which takes her beyond merely being the stereotypical object of lust. She is smart, bad-ass, and clearly more than a pretty face, something which many teen movies fail to represent. 

For fans of Dinner in America, Rehmeier populates Snack Shack with little references. Some are more obvious than others, but all work to connect the two texts on a cellular level. In the modern world of cinematic universes, it is quickly easy to believe that both Snack Shack and Dinner in America are intrinsically linked. The DNA of Dinner in America manifests itself greatest during early dinner sequences. These scenes are shot in the same North, South, East, West manner as in Dinner in America. It’s a cute little nod, but also one that won’t alienate those that have missed Rehmeier’s last movie. Then there is the character dynamic, the suburban setting, and there is an even close tie that eagle-eyed fans should look out for. 

Comparisons to Dinner in America aside, Rehmeier has once again managed to capture a film that hits the viewer right in the feelings. What initially begins as a wacky teen comedy, slowly metamorphosizes into an emotional coming-of-age drama. Snack Shack captures the endless summer of youth perfectly, infusing it with just the right amount of humour and pathos to transport the audience back to their own teen years. They say that time-travel hasn’t been invented yet, but with Snack Shack’s ability to take the viewer back to their youth, Adam Rehmeier has come mighty close.   

Snack Shack is available exclusively in theatres across the US with a UK release still TBC.