The Way, Way Back

THE WAY, WAY BACK is the funny and poignant coming of age story of 14-year-old Duncan's (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world - all during a summer he will never forget. (c) Fox Searchlight

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language, some sexual content & brief drug material                                                                                              

Runtime:  103 min 

If you go into The Way, Way Back expecting typical Steve Carrell humor, you will be very disappointed.  In his role of Trent - Carrell plays a complete jerk - and does so quite convincingly.  You know the type - macho "has-been" - mid life crisis - sucking up to the single mom, etc... gets joy from destroying any hope of self esteem or innocence a child has left.  (Been there, done that)  I wanted to punch him 15 minutes in...

The Way Way Back starts extremely slow.  It was a little annoying to me - I was let down and just knew we were going to be being bored stiff as the story lumbered along.  What I didn't realize, until the moment it happened,was Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who brought us the wonderful The Descendants) were letting us see watch the summer unfold through eyes of Duncan, the depressed, socially awkward teenage son of  Trent's love interest.  

Duncan, played brilliantly by the young actor, Liam James is a remarkable actor.  I predict we will be seeing great things from him.  Toni Collette nails her role as Pam, his mother.  No big surprise here - she plays the role of Mom-In-Need very, very well.  (Remember her in About A Boy?!)

 

Anyway, we - I mean Duncan - is lumbering along, being humiliated with every step he takes, until he finds himself sitting at the water park, watching the "normal kids" frolic and play.  All he wants to do is get away from the adults who are ruining his life.  Enter Owen (Sam Rockwell) -  the "Peter Pan" of the water park - the guy who never wants to grow up.  Owen immediately sees himself in Duncan (or so we assume) and decides to make Duncan his summer project.

Once Owen puffs a bit of self-esteem back into Duncan's lungs - the movie takes off - the music steps up - everything gets brighter - and you start to really, really dig this movie.

The Way, Way Back is very fun, and ends exactly as it should if only life ended like the movies.

Step back in time and remember how hard it is growing up - especially when the adults insist upon shoving their new friends and lovers into our lives, whether we want them there are not.  It does a wonderful job of reminding us all, if you see a child who looks lonely - a smile goes along way.  Taking five minutes to listen to their ramblings could mean the world to that child.  

The best moment in the movie comes towards the end, with Trent getting in Duncan's personal space demanding that he get in the car.  Owen steps in front of Duncan and looks Trent square in the eye.  I don't remember what he said.  Maybe he didn't say anything.  But Duncan knew.  And Trent knew.  Go out and be that guy.