2013's The Way Way Back features a pretty typical coming-of-age story, and hits some very predictable beats. What makes the film stand out it the tight, efficient script and the cast. Sam Rockwell in particular is enough reason to watch this film.
The film tells the story of a 14-year old boy named Duncan (played by Liam James) who is forced to spend the summer with his mom, her boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter at a beach house. Already a kid at a socially awkward stage of his life, spending the summer in a seaside town he's unfamiliar with his mom's boyfriend that routinely belittles him is less than ideal for Duncan. One day Duncan ventures into town where he meets the Manager of the local water park, Owen (played by Sam Rockwell). Not long after that, Owen offers Duncan a job at the water park and takes the young man under his wing. There he finds a place where he fits in, makes friends and gains confidence. He also soon befriends the girl who lives next door who is also unhappy with her home life.
For me, a lot of the drama at home doesn't completely work. Toni Collette plays Duncan's mom and Steve Carell plays the boyfriend. They're both fine in the movie but, much like Duncan, I want to get back to the cast of characters at the water park; Sam Rockwell, Nat Faxon, Maya Rudolph, and Jim Rash offer the up the films most memorable moments.
I hesitate to call this movie great. It's not a 'must-see' or some kind of groundbreaking masterpiece, but it is very good and a film that I recommend checking out.
4 out of 5.
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