Movie Review - The Way Way Back

The Way Way Back ***½ (PG-13) When sitcom actors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash last collaborated on a movie, they bagged an Oscar for their adapted screenplay of The Descendants. Now they’re tackling a bigger challenge, sharing both writing and directing credits for this coming-of-age dramedy, with plenty of heart to hold hands with its humor. Duncan (Liam James) is a shy, angry 14-year-old, reluctantly joining his mom (Toni Collette) her jerky new boyfriend (Steve Carell) and his stuck-up daughter for a summer at Carell’s seaside cabin. Duncan hates Carell and the setting, wishing he could be with his dad, who has moved to San Diego with his new gal. Everyone around them in that community has friends and shared histories, leaving him even more isolated. Even the interest of the attractive girl literally next door (AnnaSophia Robb) fails to dent his dour.

But there’s a water park nearby, and Duncan finds himself drawn to it, especially because its manager (Sam Rockwell) seems like a better big brother/father figure than anyone else in range.

Rockwell nails the role of glib, funny slacker with more of a heart than he lets on persona that carried Bill Murray and Vince Vaughn to stardom, in a slew of comedies like Stripes for the former, and Dodgeball for his successor.

Despite the presence of Carell and other reliable comedic actors like Allison Janney, Amanda Peet, Rob Corddry, Maya Rudolph and the directing duo, the script is the star. Faxon and Rash deliver a package that resonates with the pressures and adjustments faced by both parents and their progeny, without veering into the extremes of farce or sentiment. The Kings of Summer might be a better overall successor to last year’s Moonrise Kingdom for seriocomic teen angst, but this one’s in the running. The plot and characters are refreshingly realistic, free of the hyperbole that typically flows from Hollywood. Rockwell’s performance is a big plus, as well, perhaps worthy of consideration for some year-end nominations. (7/19/13)