"The Way Way Back" - directed by Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
As is the way these days with any film focusing on the problems of a family and/or with a coming of age story at the centre the posters will scream "Little Miss Sunshine", "Juno", or "The Descendants" in an attempt to sell it as more of the same.
Usually the claim is 'From the people who brought you....' but in reality it often means a producer or writer if you're lucky - an executive or associate producer if not.
"The Way Way Back" is justified in comparing itself to other Oscar winning films of its ilk.
Not only does it have the "Little Miss Sunshine" leads Steve Carell and Toni Collette and Allison Janney from "Juno" in its cast but the writers of "The Descendants" wrote, starred in and directed it.
Nat Faxon and Jim Rash won Oscars (alongside Alexander Payne) for "The Descendants" and if making "The Way Way Back" was how they leveraged the extra industry power that such an achievement provides then I say well won.
For the record I thought that "The Descendants" was average and that all four of the other nominees for Best Adapted Screenplay that year should have won ahead of it.
(They were- "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", "The Ides Of March", "Moneyball" and "Hugo")
So, for me the writer-directors weren't necessarily compelling reasons for me to buy the ticket.
The cast on the other hand is incredible with seasoned pros like Collette, Carell, Janney, Peet and Corddry having each turned in numerous excellent performaces.
And then there is the awesomeness that is Sam Rockwell.
As if that cast wasn't reason enough to attend there was a bonus in that I have not seen one single trailer or teaser for this film and that is refreshing.
I could go in fresh with nothing spoiled.
Hell, even the poster doesn't give a lot away.
The "Little Miss Sunshine" comparisons are easy to make from the first scene.
A family made up of a Mother, her son, her boyfriend and his daughter are traveling to a holiday beach house.
Instead of a Volkswagon van it is a Buick wagon.
There is still a largely mute young man and Toni Collete and Steve Carell are the 'parents' but all comparisons should end there.
The young man is named Duncan and he is not handling the trip well at all.
Upon arrival they meet a brash, alcohol soaked neighbour (a terrific Allison Janney), her pretty daughter and wonky eyed son.
Duncan is bored senseless as he tries to avoid the domineering attentions of his Mothers new man Trent.
He finally finds refuge in the local water park managed by Owen.
As played by Sam Rockwell, Owen is a joke a minute man-child.
It is soon obvious that he is quite a bit smarter than he may appear.
He takes Duncan under his wing and slowly forces him out of his shell.
Rockwell is absolute dynamite in this film.
His one liners and crazy quips come four a minute driving co-worker Caitlin (Maya Rudolph) up the wall.
Rockwell is normally the best thing in any film he is in but this role must surely have been written with him in mind.
Twenty or thirty years ago Bill Murray might have played this part and he kind of did in "Meatballs" but I can't imagine even that great man doing any better than Rockwell does here.
For those few who have are not already fans this movie will make Rockwell converts out of them.
Were he the only one firing on all cylinders this film would be just fine but he is surrounded by superb performances in this film on both sides of the camera.
Janney, Carell and Collette have all played roles much like these before but that should in no way detract from what is superb work from all three.
Amanda Peet has been under utilised for years after showing such promise in "The Whole Nine Yards" and sadly she doesn't have an awful lot to do here that stretches her.
Likewise Rob Corddry.
It is almost enough just that they were cast.
Both are the sort of actors for me at least whose mere presence elevates comedic material.
I liked the younger members of the cast a lot too.
River Alexander really shines as the long suffering Peter.
His final scene with Janney is a gem.
Liam James is probably best known from the Roland Emmerich destroy the world flick "2012".
As Duncan he does a fine job expressing inner turmoil with the few words given his character.
AnnaSophia Robb who was so good as Violet Beauregarde in Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" plays his love interest- neighbour Susanna.
There is a nice chemistry there and the developing friendship between Duncan and Susanna is just one of the things that works.
Credit should be heaped upon writer-director-stars Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
Their script efficiently gets to where it is going at a well balanced pace.
Neither dragging nor rushed more happens in its modest 103 minutes than might first seem.
Listing the key beats in the story is one thing but it is the changes that characters go through as a result that are more important.
The focus is always on Duncan and his view of the events around him.
Often quite touching Faxon and Rash's script never veers into over sentimentality.
And their performances as water park employees Ronny and Lewis are great too.
Rash in particular is hilarious as the always threatening to leave Lewis.
The banter between he and Rockwell is a highlight in a movie already loaded with highlights.
I absolutely loved this film.
As far as I am concerned it is easily the equal of the likes of "Little Miss Sunshine" and hopefully will lead to more from the talented duo behind it.
It may be the Sam Rockwell show but his performance is merely the best thing in a movie brimming with great acting and sparkling dialogue.
The score is restrained but effective with good use of some glam rock tracks resulting in an hilarious misheard lyrics scene courtesy of Amanda Peet and Rob Corddry.
The only complaint that I could level at "The Way Way Back" is that it isn't longer.
I would happily have spent twenty or thirty minutes more with this one.
As genuinely touching and pitch perfect as the ending is I would happily have waited a little longer for it.
Great, great stuff.
Usually the claim is 'From the people who brought you....' but in reality it often means a producer or writer if you're lucky - an executive or associate producer if not.
"The Way Way Back" is justified in comparing itself to other Oscar winning films of its ilk.
Not only does it have the "Little Miss Sunshine" leads Steve Carell and Toni Collette and Allison Janney from "Juno" in its cast but the writers of "The Descendants" wrote, starred in and directed it.
Nat Faxon and Jim Rash won Oscars (alongside Alexander Payne) for "The Descendants" and if making "The Way Way Back" was how they leveraged the extra industry power that such an achievement provides then I say well won.
For the record I thought that "The Descendants" was average and that all four of the other nominees for Best Adapted Screenplay that year should have won ahead of it.
(They were- "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", "The Ides Of March", "Moneyball" and "Hugo")
So, for me the writer-directors weren't necessarily compelling reasons for me to buy the ticket.
The cast on the other hand is incredible with seasoned pros like Collette, Carell, Janney, Peet and Corddry having each turned in numerous excellent performaces.
And then there is the awesomeness that is Sam Rockwell.
As if that cast wasn't reason enough to attend there was a bonus in that I have not seen one single trailer or teaser for this film and that is refreshing.
I could go in fresh with nothing spoiled.
Hell, even the poster doesn't give a lot away.
 |
| Toni Collette, Steve Carell, AnnaSophia Robb, Liam James, Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet |
The "Little Miss Sunshine" comparisons are easy to make from the first scene.
A family made up of a Mother, her son, her boyfriend and his daughter are traveling to a holiday beach house.
Instead of a Volkswagon van it is a Buick wagon.
There is still a largely mute young man and Toni Collete and Steve Carell are the 'parents' but all comparisons should end there.
The young man is named Duncan and he is not handling the trip well at all.
Upon arrival they meet a brash, alcohol soaked neighbour (a terrific Allison Janney), her pretty daughter and wonky eyed son.
Duncan is bored senseless as he tries to avoid the domineering attentions of his Mothers new man Trent.
He finally finds refuge in the local water park managed by Owen.
As played by Sam Rockwell, Owen is a joke a minute man-child.
It is soon obvious that he is quite a bit smarter than he may appear.
He takes Duncan under his wing and slowly forces him out of his shell.
Rockwell is absolute dynamite in this film.
His one liners and crazy quips come four a minute driving co-worker Caitlin (Maya Rudolph) up the wall.
Rockwell is normally the best thing in any film he is in but this role must surely have been written with him in mind.
Twenty or thirty years ago Bill Murray might have played this part and he kind of did in "Meatballs" but I can't imagine even that great man doing any better than Rockwell does here.
For those few who have are not already fans this movie will make Rockwell converts out of them.
Were he the only one firing on all cylinders this film would be just fine but he is surrounded by superb performances in this film on both sides of the camera.
 |
| Liam James and AnnaSophia Robb |
Amanda Peet has been under utilised for years after showing such promise in "The Whole Nine Yards" and sadly she doesn't have an awful lot to do here that stretches her.
Likewise Rob Corddry.
It is almost enough just that they were cast.
Both are the sort of actors for me at least whose mere presence elevates comedic material.
I liked the younger members of the cast a lot too.
River Alexander really shines as the long suffering Peter.
His final scene with Janney is a gem.
Liam James is probably best known from the Roland Emmerich destroy the world flick "2012".
As Duncan he does a fine job expressing inner turmoil with the few words given his character.
AnnaSophia Robb who was so good as Violet Beauregarde in Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" plays his love interest- neighbour Susanna.
There is a nice chemistry there and the developing friendship between Duncan and Susanna is just one of the things that works.
Credit should be heaped upon writer-director-stars Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
Their script efficiently gets to where it is going at a well balanced pace.
Neither dragging nor rushed more happens in its modest 103 minutes than might first seem.
Listing the key beats in the story is one thing but it is the changes that characters go through as a result that are more important.
The focus is always on Duncan and his view of the events around him.
Often quite touching Faxon and Rash's script never veers into over sentimentality.
And their performances as water park employees Ronny and Lewis are great too.
Rash in particular is hilarious as the always threatening to leave Lewis.
The banter between he and Rockwell is a highlight in a movie already loaded with highlights.
 |
| Nat Faxon (far left) and Jim Rash (far right) write, direct and find to time to star |
I absolutely loved this film.
As far as I am concerned it is easily the equal of the likes of "Little Miss Sunshine" and hopefully will lead to more from the talented duo behind it.
It may be the Sam Rockwell show but his performance is merely the best thing in a movie brimming with great acting and sparkling dialogue.
The score is restrained but effective with good use of some glam rock tracks resulting in an hilarious misheard lyrics scene courtesy of Amanda Peet and Rob Corddry.
The only complaint that I could level at "The Way Way Back" is that it isn't longer.
I would happily have spent twenty or thirty minutes more with this one.
As genuinely touching and pitch perfect as the ending is I would happily have waited a little longer for it.
Great, great stuff.
| Rated | M for language |
| Running Time: | 103 minutes (1hr 34 mins without end credits |
| Starring: |
| Toni Collette | --- Pam |
| Steve Carell | --- Trent |
| Liam James | --- Duncan |
| Sam Rockwell | --- Owen |
| Allison Janney | --- Betty |
| AnnaSophia Robb | --- Susanna |
| Maya Rudolph | --- Caitlin |
| Amanda Peet | --- Joan |
| Rob Corddry | --- Kip |
| River Alexander | --- Peter |
| Nat Faxon | --- Ronny |
| Jim Rash | --- Lewis |
| Adam Riegler | --- Neil |
| Zoe Levin | --- Steph |
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