Although this movie may seem like the average coming-of-age tale, it is so much more than that. The Way Way Back was probably one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. When it was over, I just sat in my seat and thought, “Wow, what a beautiful movie.”
It tells the story of 14-year-old Duncan (played fantastically by Liam James) spending the summer with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), his mother’s boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell), and Trent’s daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Duncan does not get along with Trent and doesn’t like being in the house because of that. He finds his peace by befriending a waterpark employee (the scene-stealing Sam Rockwell) and eventually working in the waterpark.
The dynamic between James and Rockwell is fantastic. James’ awkwardness isn’t uncomfortable to watch because Rockwell provides all the comedic relief you need. Rockwell somehow managed to master the balance of being comedic relief and also being serious and sensitive.
And trust me, as funny as Steve Carell is, he plays his part as a jerk very well. I didn’t think it was possible to dislike him in anything until I saw this.
The Way Way Back is everything you want in a movie – there are parts of it that are funny, there are parts that are sad, but most importantly, it’s real.
I laughed, I cried, I loved it. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed with this movie.
