The Way Way Back takes its audience to places we’ve all been before – maybe not to Cape Cod, or the run-down water parks found there, but to feelings of isolation and self-doubt.
Duncan, a socially inept 14-year-old, reluctantly spends the summer with his mother Pam (Toni Collette) and her boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell) in Cape Cod. At their sea-side beach house he is constantly belittled by Trent and begins to feel alone among the crazy (and often drunk) adults around him. He soon finds refuge with neighbor Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb) and a local water park manager Owen (Sam Rockwell). At the “Water Wizz” park, Duncan begins to find himself and his own path in life.
The movie is packed with witty dialogue, hilarious jokes and impressive performances from its all-star cast. Kelly Hopson felt “some of the characters were a bit over the top” but still praised many of the actors and the hilarity they created. The movie’s predictability does little to take away from the powerful and heartwarming coming-of-age plot. The Way Way Back’s captivating story will have you laughing, crying, and leaving the theatre completely satisfied.
Director: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney
Running time: 103 minutes
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language, some sexual content and brief drug material
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