The Way, Way Back Review

Rated PG-13 (Thematic Elements, Language, some Sexual Content and Brief Drug Material)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 43 Minutes

Cast-

Liam James-Duncan

AnnaSophia Robb-Susanna

Steve Carell-Trent

Toni Collette-Pam

Sam Rockwell-Owen

Maya Rudolph-Caitlyn

Allison Janney-Betty

Rob Corddry-Kip

Amanda Peet-Joan

Nat Faxon-Roddy

Jim Rash-Lewis

Zoe Levin-Steph

River Alexander-Peter

Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Man, I wish I knew girls like her when I was growing up!

Note: Screened on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 (Red Carpet Premiere).

I wasn't the most popular kid in grade school. Whenever I was around other people, I would speak only when spoken to because I felt if you didn't have anything interesting to say, why say anything at all? That feeling of awkwardness, of trying to find your place in the world while being caught in between childhood and adulthood is a common experience for many teenagers, with Hollywood often mining this pivotal moment in our lives in numerous coming-of-age films. The latest is "The Way, Way Back" from comedians-turned-writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, both of whom are making their directorial debuts. The duo previously won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for 2011's "The Descendants" alongside director Alexander Payne. Given the critical acclaim that film received (89% on Rotten Tomatoes, won Best Picture—Drama at the 69th Golden Globe Awards), it shouldn't be surprising to find that the distributor for Faxon and Rash's feature debut is once again Fox Searchlight Pictures. In fact, the studio paid a hefty sum of $10 million to acquire "The Way, Way Back" when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January. It's obviously an attempt to repeat the success of 2006's "Little Miss Sunshine" (with Steve Carell and Toni Collette even having a mini-reunion) but while it's admirable that the studio has so much confidence in Faxon and Rash's film, that kind of large payout sets up expectations that it may not be able to meet. That being said, "The Way, Way Back" is definitely a great film that's bolstered by a funny and honest script, as well as a scene-stealing performance from Sam Rockwell. The material isn't quite as fresh and leans a little too heavily on its all-star cast yet it functions as a charming alternative for audiences turned off by the summer's usual big-budget offerings.

Introverted fourteen-year-old Duncan (Liam James) is heading to Cape Cod, Massachusetts for the summer with his mom Pam (Toni Collette), her obnoxious new boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell) and his vain teenage daughter Steph (Zoe Levin). Arriving at her beau's coastal beach house, Pam is introduced to kooky neighbor Betty (Allison Janney) and prepares to settle down for a relaxing summer vacation with Trent's drinking buddies Kip and Joan (Rob Corddry and Amanda Peet). However, Duncan is none too happy about this arrangement and spends most of his days silently sulking around the house. He eventually sneaks off on his own and ends up at a nearby water park called Water Wizz. While there, Duncan meets the park's motor-mouthed manager Owen (Sam Rockwell) and quickly strikes up a friendship with him. Looking to boost the young teen's self-esteem, Owen offers Duncan a job for the summer. His experiences with his Water Wizz co-workers, which include the exasperated Caitlyn (Maya Rudolph), slowly draw him out of his shell, allowing Duncan to connect with Betty's teenage daughter Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb).

Like the 'modern warfare' first-person shooter, coming-of-age films are a dime-a-dozen these days (2013's Sundance Film Festival also saw the premiere of James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now") so it's somewhat disappointing to find "The Way, Way Back" so formulaic in regards to its story. The film opens with Steve Carell's Trent trying to bond with Duncan (who's sitting in the trunk in the family station wagon) by asking the fourteen-year-old how he would rate himself on a scale from one to ten. After some prodding, Duncan half-heartedly responds with a 'six' but Trent thinks he's more like a 'three,' which is pretty much the worst possible thing you can say to a kid who already has low self-esteem (This apparently happened to Rash when he was that age). The very definition of a social outcast, Duncan is faced with a potential stepfather who's a complete dick to him and a mother who's willfully oblivious to his feelings. In fact, all the adults surrounding the insecure teen are little more than childish boors trapped in their own world. As one character puts it, Cape Cod is like 'spring break for adults.' Complicating matters further are Pam's attempts to step out of her own shell at a time when her son needs her most. Moving on from her bitter divorce, she settles with Trent despite his blatant alpha-male posturing. The way the film positions Duncan and Pam as similar outsiders adds a nice wrinkle to the proceedings, although Pam's subplot is underdeveloped. While the moment-to-moment drama will be familiar to anyone who's ever seen a coming-of-age film, Faxon and Rash manage to infuse their picture with a genuine honesty, even when the story is populated by eccentric characters like Allison Janney's Betty. Since the two directors are drawing from their own experiences, they understand that real life doesn't offer bow-tied happy endings and appropriately leave a few subplots unresolved. However, the film does close on a hopeful note, with Duncan better equipped to handle whatever curveballs life throws at him.

Faxon and Rash's script won't win any points for originality but the humor it brings to the table, along with the cast's excellent performances, help elevate the familiar material. Completely stealing the film is Sam Rockwell, who gives the wisecracking water park manager a delightfully roguish charm and even a subtle hint of regret that comes with being stuck in one place for most of your life. Allison Janney also brings quite a lot of laughs as Trent's floozy neighbor Betty, often at the expense of her lazy-eyed son Peter. Carrying the entire film, Liam James is superb as wallflower Duncan. He perfectly captures his character's pent-up insecurities and anger with his taut body language and constantly-averting eyes. Playing against type, Steve Carell is rather convincing as Pam's assh*le boyfriend Trent. Hell, not even five minutes into the film, I already wanted to punch his character in the face. Toni Collette grounds the picture as Duncan's mother, with the directors themselves even joining in on the fun as a pair of slackers who also happen to work at the water park. Maya Rudolph exudes warmth while Rob Corddry and Amanda Peet have minor roles. The weakest link is unfortunately AnnaSophia Robb. It's not that her performance is bad; she's just given very little to do besides fulfilling her role as 'the love interest' for the lead character. Still, this is an impressive ensemble cast that Faxon and Rash have gathered and their combined star-power is one of the film's major benefits.

Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival and set for a limited release on July 5, 2013, "The Way, Way Back" has been receiving positive reviews so far with 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics will likely knock it for not diverting from formula but reception should remain positive when the release date rolls around in a week. Audience reception was highly enthusiastic at the red carpet premiere this past Wednesday so it might very well turn out to be the next "Little Miss Sunshine," at least in financial terms. No, "The Way, Way Back" doesn't offer anything new as far as coming-of-age films go but it remains an appealing crowd-pleaser thanks to its wonderful sense of humor and ensemble cast.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"You’ve got to go your own way, and you, my friend, are going your own way."