The Way Way Back (2013)

Powerful

Don't Believe the Hype

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I confess that I had never heard of this movie, and it just happened to be starting when I was channel surfing. I decided to stay with it, and am really glad that I did - this is one of the nicest, best-thought out movies that I have seen in a very long time. The performances were all excellent, the characters were very real and believable, and story was absolutely riveting.It's not just the 14-year-old protagonist who "comes of age," but all of the positive characters really show development and growth in this movie.

My sentiments largely echo those of the previous (chronological) review, although I'll bump my rating up a bit to four (4) stars. What a disappointing screenplay. The premise, while unoriginal, at least gave me the hope this would be something worth watching, even though I'm way beyond the target demographic. Liam James plays an introverted 14- year-old trying to blend into the beach town environment his family is visiting for a week or two. I could never quite figure out where this town was, whether it was on a lake or at the Jersey shore, or what. He winds up getting a job at the local water park which becomes his "home away from home". His family situation is dysfunctional, his mom's boyfriend (Steve Carell) is an overbearing jerk and most of the girls he encounters in their entourage won't give him the time of day. At the end of the two hours (I watched this on Fox Movie Channel) I found myself wishing I hadn't wasted the time. There wasn't a single character that seemed original or even very appealing. I can't say I was much impressed with Liam James' performance but he wasn't the only one. What is Maya Rudolph doing in this, or I could say why would someone cast her in such a role? You better look quick or you'll miss Amanda Peet in a very small, thankless role with hardly any lines. Toni Collette made no impression on me as Liam James' mother. The main guys at the water park were a bit odd, but not very interesting. Who wears hats like Sam Rockwell's anymore? Allison Janney attempted to breathe some life into the proceedings without much success. To conclude, at the end of the day, the movie couldn't figure out exactly what it wanted to be and I found it lacking in most every regard: Too bland, too clichéd, and too much miscasting.

Yuck! This movie was so bad, I turned it off half way through. What a snore! The characters were all completely cliché - not at all unique, interesting, funny, witty, deep, ANYTHING! What was with the mother in this movie? It's like she didn't even notice how unhappy her son was (or didn't care)...and Steve Carrel's character? Completely unlikable - how unusual for Steve Carrel who, although usually nerdy and clueless, is at least likable! The guy at the water park who befriends the young boy? Okay...weird.....the girlfriend? I don't even remember her, that's what a nothing impression she made on me.Where was the humor...the HUMANITY to this movie? I could make SIMS characters seem more full of life than these flat 2-dimensional characters! And what was with the pedophile pervert at the Water Wiz park, and why has NO ONE else mentioned this????? There is a young teenage girl wearing a way too small bikini standing in front of this ADULT man at the water park, and then, suddenly, as if we are following the gaze of this gross perv, the camera does a disturbingly SLOW climb up this young girl's (practically) naked body! (I know..I'm probably going to get young guys to watch the movie now because of what I'm saying,but I'm really addressing other adults and parents and yea, GIRLS out there in the world who don't agree with blatant objectification)! What kind of disgusting pervert even made this movie???? Anyway, so after THAT, I felt repulsed and turned the movie off. I HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND WATCHING THIS CARDBOARD TRASH that masquerades as some sort of "refreshing adolescent coming-of-age summer flick." DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!! (And Steve Carrel...how could you)?

I rarely give out 10s, but this movie truly deserves it.The script and dialogue is believable and very well executed. All the actors played their parts to perfection. Who would've guessed that Steve Carrel could play such a douche? Toni Colette is great as the insecure mom who loves her son, but is torn between him and "Trent". (Toni has a knack for these roles requiring depth - see "Muriels Wedding") Sam Rockwell is perfect as the not-yet completely grown-up mentor.The plot and pacing is just perfect. This gives the movie a feeling of believability, while being funny and captivating. There are no unnecessary jokes or violence. No silly special effects. And Owens "Don't follow a pattern on my quarter. You pave your own way" is what it's all about.This hit a home-run with me. 10/10