The Way, Way Back

The Way, Way Back

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 7/19/13

Reviewed 7/25/13 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I love to leave the theatre feeling good! This is one of those movies. I liked it a little more than Gary, although we both laughed a lot. This is the first time I watched a Steve Carell movie where I didn't like his character; not one bit. I like him better in Dan in Real Life type roles. Allison Janney as jabber jaws Betty and Sam Rockwell playing aging playboy Owen, who manages a water park, are comical in every scene they are in.

Trent (Carell), who has a snotty teen daughter, is dating Pam (Toni Collette). Her son is Duncan (Liam James) and all four are heading out for the summer to spend some time together working on being a family. Trent and Duncan do not get off on the right foot after Trent very bluntly deems the poor kid as a "3" out of 10 and wants him to work on improving his score. The neighboring cottage welcoming committee is drunken Betty who is the life of the party, no matter the time of day. She readily accepts her title as bad mother to her son and cutie teenager Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb). The awkward and shy Duncan is forced to hang with the girls and his dorkiness is almost too much to watch. Things change rapidly for Duncan as he breaks into an unusual friendship with super funny Owen at Water Fizz. Duncan sneaks to the park every day riding off on a little girl's bike after his mentor Owen hires him at the park.

Parents are too busy to notice I guess, getting to know each other and hanging with their wild friends. Things get a little heated after Duncan finally has had enough of wannabe stepdad Trent being a jerk one too many times. The summer is not all lost though, because Owen has had just enough time to transform Duncan into a now confident and almost cute 14-year-old guy. You will laugh, get mad here and there, but for the most part The Way, Way Back is charming down to the end. We loved the movie and it's worthy of a trip.

QUIET Rating System: 3 Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJ