Funny, charming and surprisingly poignant
Shy 14-year-old Duncan rides in the back
of a car with his family on their way to his mother's
boyfriend's beach house for the summer. While his mother sleeps in the
passenger seat, her boyfriend Trent asks Duncan to rate himself on a scale of 1
to 10. After replying with a 6, Trent insists "I
think you’re a 3”. Ironically these cruel words are spoken
by Steve Carell. Previously known for playing lovable and funny characters,
Carell is neatly cast against type in this zany coming of age tale about a boy
who has a rough time fitting in. The introverted Duncan soon finds an
unexpected friend in a carefree manager of a waterpark, and slowly opens up and
sheds his skin (figuratively of course). As the premise suggests, this story doesn't stray away from the clichés
but rather indulges in them. A finely tuned script and an abundance of
charm marks the movie the most enjoyable comedy experience of the year.
The
Way Way Back is one of those unexpected sleeper hits
in the same vein of Little Miss Sunshine
that you didn’t know you really wanted to watch. The film’s quirky 80s vibe,
impressive cast and zany sense of humour instantaneously grabs you in and
doesn’t let go. Director debutants Nat Faxon and Jim
Rash - who won an Oscar in 2011 for their adapted screenplay of The
Descendants – have assembled a magnetic company of
both new and old faces including Toni Collette, Allison Janney,
Sam Rockwell and newcomer Liam James just to name a few.
Sam Rockwell is particularly refreshing
and genuinely hilarious in the role of Owen who becomes a comical father figure
of sorts to Duncan. The setting of the water park is a sanctuary for the pair
as an escape from the lousiness of reality. Other big laughs come from Betty,
played by the hilarious and ever-dependable Allison Janney, who is the zealous
and painfully honest neighbor of Steve Carell's character. She has a socially
deprived son with a lazy eye (for which she constantly berates him). She steals
every scene she’s in and provides much light comic relief. Additionally, Liam James is thoroughly believable in his first lead film
role, displaying real credibility as an excruciatingly shy and often awkward kid.
Undeniably charming and surprisingly
poignant, The Way Way Back
truly is this year’s Little Miss Sunshine.
You can’t help leaving the cinema smiling broadly.
