The Way Way Back review

The Way Way Back is a coming of age story about 14 year old Duncan played by Liam James (2012) on a summer vacation with his mother and her bullying boyfriend at a beach house. Out one day he discovers Water Wizz, a nearby water park. It is here that he finds a love interest in Susanna, the neighbour’s daughter…

The film opens slowly and the tempo reflects Duncan’s sullen mood, understandable given the, erm, despicable treatment he receives from Trent. The film doesn’t really start to hit the mark until the wisecracking water park manager is introduced. Rockwell dominates every scene until he becomes annoying. It’s testament to his acting capabilities that he shows his character sobering up and maturing just in the nick of time.

It tackles similar ground to 2009’s Adventureland starring Jesse Eisenberg, albeit lighter and less cerebral in tone. That’s not to say that there aren’t serious scenes, particularly the confrontation scene between Duncan and Trent over his devious shenanigans, which is perhaps a little incongruous with the rest of the film. The film sags at midpoint, but it is in its final third that it saves itself.

The blossoming romance between the two young characters is tender and real and Duncan proves himself at the park. Particularly rewarding is the interplay between Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids) and Rockwell, and Toni Colette and Liam James during this section, who each gives the film an air of credibility. It’s also well supported by Allison Janney (Juno) as Susanna’s overbearing mother. Carell’s performance is understated and nuanced and it is a credit to his performance that despite all his awfulness you can almost understand where he’s coming from.

Overall, it’s all a tad predictable and formulaic with the biggest laughs given away in the trailer, ruining any spontaneity the film has. Some scenes should work, but don’t quite – such as the break dancing scene. The incidental characters are amusing, but add little to the plot, and the Trent aspect of the plot could have been a little more developed. Decidedly average all in all.

Neil Milton