Genre:
Comedy/Drama
Directed
by: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
Starring:
Liam James, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell
Running
time: 103 minutes
Against
his will, 14-year-old Duncan has to spend summer vacation with his mother, her
boyfriend and his daughter at a beach house. To get away from a home life he
cannot stand and in which he feels neglected, the boy secretly gets a summer
job at the local water park, spending time with the manager, Owen, who takes
him under his wing and finally gives him the bit of attention he needs to
blossom as a future adult.
I
particularly loved the on-screen relationship as boy and mentor between Liam
James and Sam Rockwell. The two worked very well together. James is a relative
newcomer, so kudos to him. As for Rockwell, he’s been a solid character actor
for years. Here, he knocks it out of the park as immature, yet loveable,
freespirit Owen. Owen is just the right person to get and understand Duncan at
his age, so it is a perfect match that the two actors deliver real well on.
As
for Steve Carell, who plays the mother’s boyfriend, he shows great restraint.
His character is not likeable, and it is made quite clear in the delivery, but
the actor, known for his chops as a comedic man, does not go over the top with
it. He carries the character’s personality in his dialogues, but he never goes
overboard with the mannerisms and antics. As for Toni Collette, she plays the
mother, a woman caught between making her new relationship work and caring for
a teenage son who needs a bit of attention to come out of his shell.
The
story of Way, Way Back is a very compelling one. I definitely could relate to
Duncan, though our stories are quite different, and I am sure many will. I wish
I would have had an Owen on my path, sure could have brought a new dimension in
my life. I highly recommend this film: It offers a very touching story without
resorting to hardcore tugging on the heartstrings.
Rating:
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