The Way Way Back

2013 "We've all been there."
7.4| 1h43m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 05 July 2013 Released
Producted By: OddLot Entertainment
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.

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Reviews

Gabriel Batista But it's light, Make the viewer happy in an inexplicable way.
garthlotel This is a very funny, charming film with great performances from all cast members. Steve Carell is chillingly good as the 'villain' of the piece, Alison Janney is as fabulous as ever and Sam Rockwell wins the entire film for his fantastic portrayal of a Peter Pan / water park employee. Unfortunately poor Toni Collette is wasted in the most boring role, but she has a few great moments. Not your usual coming of age film. Highly original, refreshing and surprising.
sugarnspices I rated this movie a 2 out of 10. It had a few funny scenes thanks to Allison J., but even her character was over the top and never turned off. That was my main "problem" with this movie was all the over the top/extreme personalities of just about every character. Nobody is like this in real life, all the time. Now let me go into the most "oh come on already" characters of this extreme Hollywood wanna be Indie, deep movie. The kid, Duncan. This kid made me feel so uncomfortable the entire time. From his dark purple lips and bleached out skin, to his long unnatural arms with huge hands and head. Now not trying to be mean, but I thought he had some kind of giantism and was autistic, had to come to trust my IMDb and read his page to find out I was wrong. He crossed the "shy, finding himself" feel to plain old creepy and mentally disabled. Couldn't relate with him at all other than feeling sorry for him by the way every one "treated" him and completely ignored him. Which brings me to the mother..Toni Collete. I love her. Always have. But I've never been so disgusted with a female character in my life. Just completely ignoring and watching some boyfriend completely ridicule and put down your obviously different son, non-stop, everywhere was just completely annoying and angering. Yes, let's strap on a HUGE red life vest on this kid with a whole group of people, but he is the ONLY one that has to wear it because your boyfriend said so. And on top of that, let's ALL just completely ignore the fact the kid is sitting in the shade by himself looking like he is about to kill himself, and all just laugh and have a good old time, only glancing over and showing some kind of "aw" once in awhile, but go right back to the group fun! What a great mom!!! If I were that kid I would have told her to shove it up where the sun don't shine and never speak to her again. That kind of mental abuse is not funny or she just needed to see it herself and figure it out. No. She needed to be slapped in the face and take her mom card away. Oh but she climbs in the "way way back" at the end and give him the "op, sorry I was the worst mother alive for the last few weeks, putting some strange man before you repeadtly in front of everyone, but I look sorry so we are good, right? Cool." NO. Steve C. played the a-hole bf OK, at first. It got to a point of just ridiculousness and unreal by the end. The kid breaks out of the car to sprint to the water park last minute, shocking, and they go in to find him and Steve yells "What are we doing here, c'mon!!!" Yes, like he is expecting everyone to be like "oh, he is in the water park..he likes it there, who's hungry, let's just keep going." Over the top, unrealistic and annoying. Like most the movie. Brings me to pretty much every character from the water park. Annoying, annoying, over the top, unrealistic and did I say annoying?? The gross water slide guy and his 1 minute way too long of "hold it, still holding" annoyance was so stupid. Yes some 40 something year old creep is going to keep some teenage girl standing here as all 3 of them obviously stare at her body is OK and like she wouldn't notice and become skeeved out and leave. Disgusting. Sam R.'s character was the typical, laid back, don't care, super cool, can eff off all summer and in life, but not until the girl he likes puts him in his place in a random 5 second scene, was all he needed to start growing up and be a man. And don't get me started with the dancing scene at the water park. "You can have the cardboard, but you gotta dance for it" as they all stand around and clap and support his autistic awkward dancing, and don't forget the girl showing him all those rocking moves such as the robot! You know kids just LOVE the robot, it's just so cool!!! Barf. This movie was cute-ish, and had some good humor, but overall was a typical Hollywood script you could call 10 minutes before it happen and was beyond corny and campy and everything I can't stand in a movie.
mgulev I rarely give out 10s, but this movie truly deserves it.The script and dialogue is believable and very well executed. All the actors played their parts to perfection. Who would've guessed that Steve Carrel could play such a douche? Toni Colette is great as the insecure mom who loves her son, but is torn between him and "Trent". (Toni has a knack for these roles requiring depth - see "Muriels Wedding") Sam Rockwell is perfect as the not-yet completely grown-up mentor.The plot and pacing is just perfect. This gives the movie a feeling of believability, while being funny and captivating. There are no unnecessary jokes or violence. No silly special effects. And Owens "Don't follow a pattern on my quarter. You pave your own way" is what it's all about.This hit a home-run with me. 10/10