The Way, Way Back
2013
**½
Director: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Cast: Liam James, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet
14-year-old Duncan is forced to go on a summer holiday with his delicate mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and his snarky daughter. There's moping galore until Duncan lands a job in the local water park and finally finds people who acknowledge and even appreciate his existence. Actors and Academy Award winning screenwriters (for The Descendants) Nat Faxon and Jim Rash make their directorial debut with this likeable but disappointingly clichéd coming-of-age story. Each character has one trait that defines their entire personality, and Faxon and Rash make no effort to understand anyone apart from Duncan. As a result, the film is monotonous and surprise-free. The performances are good, though.
