THE WAY, WAY BACK (2013)

Genre: Drama
Director: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Cast: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Annasophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James
RunTime: 1 hr 44 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language)
Released By: 20th Century Fox
Official Website: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thewaywayback/

Opening Day: 12 September 2013

Synopsis: Written and directed by the Oscar winning writers of THE DESCENDANTS, THE WAY, WAY BACK is the funny and poignant coming of age story of 14-year-old Duncan’s (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen (Sam Rockwell), the carefree manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world - all during a summer that will change his life.

Movie Review:

Congratulations, Steve Carell – you have successfully made us dislike a character you portray. We used to be on your side for every personality you played on screen. Andy Stitzer from The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) left us in stitches, Dan Burns in Dan in real Life (2007) was a heartbreaker and Burt Wonderstone’s harir piece in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) was a hoot on its own. Let’s not even talk about Michael Scott from your hit TV series The Office. But with this latest big screen role as an overbearing boyfriend, you’ve played the first nastily unpleasant character in your career.

And that’s not a bad thing, because that is life as it is. Carell and an ensemble of fine actors star in this American comedy written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who are known for their Oscar winning screenplay for The Descendants (2001), The duo’s directorial debut tells the story of a shy 14 year old boy who goes on summer vacation with his mother, her arrogantly obnoxious boyfriend and his daughter. As all coming of age dramas would go, he has a difficult time fitting in, and ends up being friends with a manager of a water park.

There may not be enough dramatic twists and turns in the plot, but what is notable about this 103 minute film is how it paints life’s every moment with empathy. There are many moments in the film that you will be able to connect with, from a teenager’s desperate attempt to find meaning in life and his curiosity in the opposite gender, to a parent’s sudden outburst and her uncontrollable emotional breakdown. These are moments in life that you have seen, or even experienced, but may not always be courageous enough to talk about them.

Faxon and Rash’s screenplay does not overplay or overdramatise the emotions of the central character, and manages to introduce a myriad of other seemingly unnoticeable personalities that essentially make up life itself. There is the loving mother who wants nothing more than the best for her son, the playmate who is enigmatically attractive, her brother who makes life more chuckle worthy with his weird behaviour, the new friend whom you want to know better because of his larger than life nature, and his love interest who is one of the hundreds of people you walk past every other day. These profiles surround the protagonist in his pursuit to find himself, and with is developed well with a finely paced script.

The directors also have a fine cast to thank for this highly laudable production. Besides Carell, there is the always reliable Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine, Hitchcock) who plays the protagonist’s mother, Allison Janney (Juno, The Help) who plays the hard drinking neighbour, and AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Race to WitchMountain) who plays the attractive love interest. Liam James (Fred Claus, 2012) takes on the role of Duncan, the central character with an inspiringly praiseworthy performance.

Most noteworthy is the highly underrated Sam Rockwell (Moon, Seven Psychopaths) who makes an unexpected connection with Duncan. The 44 year old actor is a fine reminder of how the most unremarkably inconspicuous person you come across in life can make the biggest impact. His fine acting is complemented by Maya Rudolph (Away We Go, Grown Ups 2) and co-director Faxon himself.

When the last scene of Duncantravelling across town in a car comes on screen, you’d be gently reminded that life is but a journey where no one has definite answers how things will turn out – but also one where everyone trots along with consolation and solace from companions. 

Movie Rating:

(The highly recommended movie boasts wonderful performances from the ensemble cast, and an affirming life lesson that will leave you moved by life’s seemingly insignificant moments)

Review by John Li