Nothing fits better into the summer season than a unknown indie flick. When every week you are greeted with bombastic actions sequences and visual extravaganzas, its nice to take a breather from it all. This breather comes in the form of a little known independent film called The Way Way Back. Is it worth your time, or even your money? Let's find out.
Plot Summery Via IMDB
Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend (Steve Carrell), and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park.
The story is nothing special, and I will be the first one to admit it. However, the cliche story is pushed into the background behind it's complex and compelling characters who make every moment of this film worth seeing. The person who really stands out is the always spectacular Sam Rockwell, who spits jokes out of his mouth that would put Tony Stark to shame (Sorry RDJ). I am a firm believer that any film with Rockwell is a better film, and i would watch a movie where he talks to himself for 2 hours. Oh yeah, I've done that it's called Moon and its spectacular. Let's stop kissing Sam Rockwell's ass for a second and talk about other people in the film. Steve Carrell gives an odd performance, unlike anything he has done and surprisingly it worked rather well. Even when at times seeing him as a douchbag feels so wrong. The kid named Duncan gave a solid performance for a young actor, but I've seen better from Logan Lerman (Perks Of Being A Wallflower) and Tye Sheridan (Mud). Maya Rudolph brought a calming grounded presence to the wacky world of Water Wizz, while on the opposite spectrum Nat Faxon and Jim Rash who also direct the film brought a handful of chuckles to chew up the screen when Rockwell wasn't saying anything. Everyone did a fine job, and nobody really struck me in the wrong way.
There was some problems with the script for me, in particular the way Steve Carrel's daughter was written. While funny, her lines were essentially a to the extreme prissy popular girl. The writing also may have faltered with AnnaSophia Robb's character, who was Duncan's love interest. She wasn't given a lot to work with and came off rather bland. She did have this awkward young love chemistry with Liam James, which did help the very few intimate scenes. The film did lack a real emotional punch that I have come to find in films like this. It to me is the polar opposite of last years Perks of Being Wallflower which isn't exactly a bad thing. The story its cliche and predictable but for the first time in a long time, I say who cares. This was the Sam Rockwell show, it was a heartfelt, enjoyable and downright charming comedy that I will love to see again. Even if the writing wasn't perfect and Sam Rockwell did over shine anyone and everyone on screen, it is still a film the large majority will enjoy. Go see this film if it's still in theaters, if not wait patiently for it to come on DVD.
Did I say Sam Rockwell enough?
Verdict 4 out of 5
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