Title – The Way Way Back (2013)
Director – Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (feature debut)
Cast – Liam James, Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, AnnaSophia Robb, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet
Plot – Spending the summer with his divorced mum Pam (Collette) at her new boyfriend Trent’s (Carell) beach house Duncan (James) looks set to be in for a long hot and arduous holiday season. Upon meeting girl Susanna (Robb) and getting a job at water park Water Wizz under the tutelage of Owen (Rockwell) things start to look up for Duncan.
“You’ve got to go your own way, and you, my friend, are going your own way”
Review by Eddie on 4/12/2013
Thanks to some fun spirited supporting turns and an easy going charm The Descendants writing duo of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s coming of age dramedy The Way Way Back is one of this year’s most enjoyable and loveable films and one that will make you want to find the nearest water park.
Despite The Way Way Back not being particularly original by any stretch of the imagination, there is a freshness and sincerity to Faxon and Rash’s script that allows actors such as the ever great Sam Rockwell as charming man-child Owen and Alison Janney as the not so charming divorce’ Betty to truly shine in roles that are some of the year’s best written and best performed. I think it’s needful to make a more particular mention of Rockwell’s performance in this film, a performance that reaffirms that Rockwell is one of the most professional actors working today and as his memorable roles continue to build he is quickly establishing himself as one of the most fully formed character actors to have worked in the industry. In concerns to the other performers in the film, Carell as an against type arrogant pig does well to subvert his usual characteristics and Collette is as solid as ever.
The Way Way Back’s major stumbling block is strangely Liam James as our 14 year old protagonist Duncan. Jame’s role was perhaps played to perfection but his sulky introverted teenager isn’t exactly a barrel of laughs to be around and in some scenes it feels like his in need of a good old fashioned shake up and a reminder that your life is not that bad. The film also has some other elements that whilst fun seem slightly forced, such as Duncan’s “Pop and Lock” impromptu dance off at the water park or Jim Rash’s appearances as creepy park employee Lewis. Overall though these slight missteps can’t diminish the films many qualities in any significant movie ruining manner.
It’s refreshing to watch a movie that is a pure unbridled joy to sit back to and watch. The teenager inside all of us can relate to many an anguish or awkward moment that appears throughout the film and there are many stand out comedic moments delivered by the white hot performance of Rockwell. In a year filled with many a bloated and misguided tale The Way Way Back is like one of those good water slides that you’ll want to race back to again and again.
4 Candy Land’s out of 5
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Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
i enjoyed it immensely, and harbour a hope that Rockwell gets some sort of award recognition for it in the next few weeks when the award season kicks in to high gear. i reviewed it and ‘The Kings of Summer’ (another teenage comedy definitely worth seeing) : http://ragingfluff.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/the-boys-of-summer-the-kings-of-summer-and-the-way-way-back/
Glad you enjoyed it to Niall, Kings of Summer looks great! Not sure when it will find it’s way to Australia though unfortunately.
It Rockwell was campaigned hard for a supporting Oscar I reckon he could get in but competition pretty tough this year.
Eddie
Good review Eddie. The whole cast seems to be enjoying the hell out of this material, even if, at the end of the day, it is a safe and conventional script.
It seems that way didn’t it? Could sense a great vibe was present on set and a heap of fun to be apart of. I could think of worse places to work than on a real life Water Park set 🙂
Eddie
Awesome review. Love this film to death, despite its shortcomings.
Cheers Jo, it’s one of those charming films that seems to have to much heart to ignore. I look forward to Rash and Naxon’s next flick.
Eddie
Didn’t like this quite as much review (I think Trent is terribly developed as pure bad guy and nothing more), but I agree it is a fun flick. I even think it was incredibly close to exceptional greatness.
A very fun flick James, something this year has been worryingly short on.
Eddie
Loved this film and will definitely include it on my 2013 top 10 list! Rockwell has become one of those actors that I don’t think twice about… If he is in the film I am going to see it!
His on a roll that is for sure, I can’t recall the last time I saw him on screen and didn’t really enjoy his work.
Eddie
I surprised how much I liked this movie. Became one of my favorites of the year
I was surprised to Nath, was truly enjoyable.
Eddie
Loved the movie! Fresh, sweet, funny…quiet but probably the movie I enjoyed most last summer.
Great review! It was a surprisingly refreshing movie to watch for me as well.
Nice review! I’m so looking forward to seeing this.
Let us know what you think Vince once you catch it.
Eddie
Will do!
loved this movie. definitely one of 2013’s best films.
Great review
Cheers Rob, happy to hear you had the same feelings towards it.
Eddie
Solid work Eddie. Agreed about Rockwell, man he was a hoot. I thought Rash popping up every now and then was pretty hilarious. “MY DOCTOR’S SAY I CAN’T GET WATER ON MY FACE!!” I will forever crack up at the scene when I inevitably buy copies of this DVD for myself and the entire family. lol I loved this.
See also: an incredibly soundtrack.
Agreed on all points mate other than the rash ha. I could watch Rockwell any day the man is a genius character actor.
Eddie
I really enjoyed Steve Carrell playing such an asshole. Allison Janney is my spirit animal. Sam Rockwell is too dreamy. You’re welcome for this incredibly insightful comment.
Cheers for the thoughts Katie, I to really dug Carell as that completely evil type character, I would like to see more of that from him.
Eddie