The Way, Way Back Review

"On a scale of 1-10, what do you think you are?"

This is how The Way, Way Back opens. This line is what sets the tone for the whole film and it works brilliantly. The directorial debut from Jim Rash (Community) and Nat Faxon (Ben & Kate), two-thirds of the writing team for the incredible The Descendents (for which the pair, along with co-writer and director Alexander Payne, won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay), features an amazing story and an incredible cast that will surely stand out among the action blockbusters of the summer.

The Way, Way Back stars Liam James as Duncan, a 14-year-old on summer vacation with his mother Pam (Toni Collette), her boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell) and Trent's daughter Steph (Zoe Levin) at Trent's summer beach house on the East Coast. Trent asks Duncan the above line and says that he thinks Duncan is a three (as opposed to the six that Duncan responds with). He cites Duncan's introverted tendencies for the low score but says the he hopes that the summer will give Duncan a chance to boost his score.

Upon arrival at the beach community, we meet the rest of our amazing cast. There's the alcoholic and gregarious neighbor Betty (Allison Janney) and her children Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb) and Peter (River Alexander). There are Trent's friends Kip (Rob Corddry) and Joan (Amanda Peet). Then there's Owen (Sam Rockwell), the childish manager for the Water Wizz water park. While the adults partake in their spring break-like antics (as Susanna puts it), Duncan takes to riding around town on Steph's old bike that he digs out of the garage and moping around Water Wizz where Owen takes him under his wing and hires him on to the staff.

This movie really spoke to me. I was a shy, introverted kid growing up (and still have many introvert tendencies). My parents divorced when I was young and some of the interactions that Trent and Duncan had were similar to some of my own experiences with some of the people that my parents dated. This was a movie that I could see myself in and that, along with the fantastic performances, drew me in.

James plays a great lead. While most people probably know him for young Shawn Spencer on USA's series Psych, this role gives him a chance to shine. His character goes from mopey and quiet to happy and outgoing over the course of the film. It's so much fun to watch him grow through the film. His interactions with Robb as the love interest are sometimes cringe-worthy due to Duncan's shy, awkward personality, but they are never-the-less adorable and a great part of this story.

Rockwell is funny as ever in this movie but doesn't just lay back and fire off joke after joke. His character shows a great depth and watching him grow is also fantastic.

For me, however, the stand-out performance came from Carell. We've seen him play a more subdued character before, much like in 2007's Dan in Real Life, but I don't think we've ever seen him as unlikable. Carell's Trent is someone that I absolutely hated throughout the picture and it was fantastic. The role shows some serious versatility for him.

The Way, Way Back is an amazing movie and a great palette cleanser to break from the action-packed blockbusters that populate the cinemas in the summer months.