The Way, Way Back (2013)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Duncan	Liam James
Trent Ramsey	Steve Carell
Pam	Toni Collette
Owen	Sam Rockwell	½
Betty Thompson	Allison Janney	½
Susanna Thompson	AnnaSophia Robb
Caitlin	Maya Rudolph	½
Kip	Rob Corddry	½
Joan	Amanda Peet	½
Lewis	Jim Rash	½
Roddy	Nat Faxon	-
Kyle	Robert Capron	-
Lyle Ballou	Noah Hathaway	-
Peter Thompson	River Alexander	-
Steph Ramsey	Zoe Levin	-

Review

A fun opening sets the tone for this fine little coming-of-age movie from filmmaking duo Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who both appear in comic relief parts). As we arrive in Cape Cod, Massachusetts for a summer vacation together with a handful of middle-aged couples and singles + their respective "yours, mine and ours", it soon becomes clear that there will be a lot of attention given to everyone except awkward 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James). His new stepdad (Steve Carell) belittles him, his stepsister (Zoe Levin) ignores him, and his mother (Toni Collette) is overwhelmed by it all. There's also another couple (Rob Cordry and Amanda Peet) as well as a risque, perpetually tipsy neighbour (Allison Janney) and her two children. This semi-chaotic set-up of several disconcerting, self-involved couples and parents makes the first part of The Way, Way Back feel like something Alan Alda could have written and directed in the 1980s. But after having settled a little, the film's focus shifts entirely to Duncan and his escapades biking around town, where he gets acquainted with manboy Sam Rockwell, who runs a local water park. It's this friendship which becomes the heart of The Way, Way Back and makes it stand out as a coming-of-age story for the ages. The Rockwell character's eccentricity and confident immaturity gives Duncan the courage to become self-assured and break free from the bonds of the other disillusioned grown-ups around him. Faxon/Rash's script has got novelty, flair and perception. Brilliant performances from Rockwell and Allison Janney complement Liam James' sensitive Lucas-ish Duncan.