The Way, Way Back (2013) - Starring Liam James, Sam Rockwell, Toni Collette, Steve Carrell, AnnaSophia Robb, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Amanda Peet, Rob Corddry, Zoe Levin, River Alexander. Written and Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Rated PG-13. Now in Theaters.
The Way, Way Back was a fantastic movie that was lost among all of the big, loud blockbusters that came out this summer. It has a standard concept - a coming of age story set during the summer- but is infused with an unique perspective and sense of humor by the writing/directing team of the Oscar-winning Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (They won an Oscar for their work on the film The Descendants.) The jokes made in this film are great and are evenly paced with the emotional heart of this film. It's compelling and entertaining.
The best part of this film is probably the acting. Everyone is fantastically cast. Steve Carrell does fantastic, playing against type, as the main character's mom's jerk of a new boyfriend. Allison Janney does great as an inappropriate, borderline alcoholic neighbor. Liam James, who portrays the main character, gives a performance that seems wooden and lackluster at first, but on further thought is exactly how a kid that age would act. However, the best actor is Sam Rockwell, an actor who should be more popular than he is. He does absolutely terrific as a waterpark manager, who hasn't really ever grown up. He is a mentor and a friend to the main character at a time when the kid needs someone to be that. Rockwell's humor and charisma elevates this film to be even better than it would've been without him.
While some of this film might feel familiar, the acting and humor make it fresh enough for an audience to really enjoy it. I highly recommend it and it might be my favorite movie of the summer.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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