The Way, Way Back is a pleasant getaway from all the summer blockbusters, but this film has a familiar taste to it. It’s not as if this is a bad movie, which it’s not, it is just that the film coasts along without making any impactful impressions. There are a few mildly humorous moments, but no real laugh out loud moments. There are a couple heartfelt scenes, but those moments pass by with nor real lingering effects.
The film takes place in what may or may not be in the present. That is one of the unique aspects of the story, its timelessness. 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) is forced to spend the summer at a beach house with his mom and her boyfriend. Right from the beginning we could tell that this is not going to be a fun summer for Duncan when Trent (Steve Carell), the boyfriend, basically tells Duncan that he is a loser. At first this scene starts out with a laugh, but then we come to realize that Trent is not quite as nice as we hope that he is and he has no intensions of joking with Duncan.
Duncan winds up eluding his dull family time by working at a waterpark, where he befriends Owen (Sam Rockwell), who is in need of growing up himself. It is at this waterpark where Duncan learns to open up and express himself through all kinds of means, including the notorious white guy breakdancing scene. Also helping to distract Duncan from this abysmal vacation is the lovely next-door neighbor Susana (Annasophia Robb), whom Duncan grows fond of.
The acting in this film is top notch. Everyone from Carell to Rockwell to Toni Collette, who plays Duncan’s mom, are all perfectly cast and played to great effect. Even all of the supporting characters have a charm and playfulness to them wherever they pop up, especially Allison Janney who plays the overzealous neighbor who is always looking for a good time.
I did expect a little more from the screenwriters Jim Rash and Nick Faxon who are coming off their Academy Award winning work in The Descendants. But then again this is their directorial debut, which may explain their more conservative and conventional approach.
There is enjoyment while watching this movie. Unfortunately this film plays it too safe and is too predictable. Afterwards you’ll realize that it won’t leave any lasting memories and be disappointed in what this film could have been.