“The Way, Way Back” marks the directorial debut of two highly talented individuals named Jim Rash and Nat Faxon. They got the gig after winning an Oscar for a display of exceptional writing chops co-writing the script for 2011’s “The Descendants” with Alexander Payne. They were the guys that made fun of Angelina Jolie’s leg extension/stance thingie. Remember?
Here the two men are on their own and prove that they have a knack for telling a funny and entertaining story that is grounded in reality. A comedy with actual people in it is refreshing and Adam Sandler should take some notes and maybe re-think releasing “Grown Ups 2”. You can pull the plug if you want to Adam.
“The Way, Way Back” marks the beginning of a very promising career as Rash and Faxon show us that they have a unique voice and a nuanced hand at crafting a film. I’m excited for the future. I mean that in the general sense, of course, but I also mean I can’t wait to see what these guys come up with next.
You won’t find anything as emotionally heavy as “The Descendants” here but you will find plenty of angst. We meet up with Duncan (Liam James) as he heads to a beach house for the summer with his mother and her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell). Trent is an asshole but a subtle one who is laser focused on Duncan’s introverted personality. He’s a 14 year old boy who is dealing with his parents’ divorce but Trent cuts him zero slack. Trent is a bully and Carell gives us some of his best work to date by not over doing the negative. Trent is a real life villain and more despicable than anything Carell has done before. The opening dialogue where Trent asks Duncan to rate himself by number is a killer.
Duncan soon finds solace at a local waterpark called Water Wizz by befriending the fast talking Owen (Sam Rockwell). Owen is the exact opposite of Duncan, lighting the world around him on fire with a quick wit and endless banter. The park is filled with interesting characters and allows Duncan to be the kid he is growing out of while giving him the opportunity to become the young man he is meant to be.
What keeps this from becoming a textbook entry in the “Coming Of Age” genre is that Rash and Faxon populates their world with flesh and blood characters. Sam Rockwell steals the show as Owen. You’ve seen him pull of this fast talking smartass role before (“Choke,” “The Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy”) so there is a familiarity but he is what fuels the movie. Allison Janney also stands out as a broken neighbor who always has a drink in her hand as she hoots and laughs the summer away. Toni Collette plays Duncan’s mother, Pam, and she gets to shed the most tears. She has a tough role that puts the burden of shifting tone gears in mid stride square on her shoulders but she pulls it off.
While James gives Duncan the proper amount of stiff charm, the rest of the kids don’t fare as well. AnnaSophia Robb plays Duncan’s love interest and she is barely present. The adults keep center stage through most of the film but Duncan does eventually take over as he comes out of his cocoon. The film does drag a bit during its first act but things really get going once they hit the slides at Water Wizz.
“The Way, Way Back” is a delightful summer film that breaks from convention enough to warrant the description: fresh and original.