7.4/10
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224 user 282 critic

The Way Way Back (2013)

PG-13 | | Comedy, Drama | 26 July 2013 (USA)
Trailer
2:32 | Trailer
Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.

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973 ( 346)
5 wins & 30 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Pam
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Kip
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Adam Riegler ...
Neil
Jeremy Weaver ...
Jason
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Storyline

Duncan (Liam James) is not a popular kid and it doesn't look like the summer is going to offer anything better for him. His mother's boyfriend has invited them to his beach house where Duncan is expected to improve his personality and physical appearance, and meet girls. But his would-be step-sister doesn't want anything to do with him and his shy demeanor makes it difficult for him to meet anybody new. When Duncan wanders into the Water Wizz, the local water park, he meets adult employees who are just having fun. Owen (Sam Rockwell) lets Duncan work with him and their new-found bond will help each other mature and find their place in life. Which for Duncan means standing up to his would-be step-father, having a conversation with the girl next door and being more comfortable with who he is. Written by napierslogs

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Everybody has a summer that changes their life. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language, some sexual content and brief drug material | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

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Release Date:

26 July 2013 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

The Way Back  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$552,788, 7 July 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$21,501,098, 15 November 2013
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original script, the character of Caitlin was a young teenager who worked in the park and had no significant screen time. In later drafts, Jim Rash and Nat Faxon decided to make the character older and have her interact with Owen (Sam Rockwell)more, though it was mostly superficial interaction. When Maya Rudolph was cast, Rash and Faxon told Rudolph and Rockwell, that although there was not much in the script, the two actors would have to create a meaningful relationship between their two characters. See more »

Goofs

When Duncan meets Owen, Owen is in the middle of a game of Pac-Man on Level 1. He says he's never made it to Level 2. When we see the screen a number of dots and one of the power-pellets are missing. When Duncan loses Owen's last life, still on Level 1, the screen shows an earlier point in the game. See more »

Quotes

Joan: Carry a laser down the road that I must travel!
Kip: Why would it be 'carry a laser'?
Joan: Because it's a song about outer space.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Showreel: Another One Bites the Dust (2013) See more »

Soundtracks

Come And See
Written by Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless
Performed by Young Galaxy
Courtesy of Arts & Crafts Productions Inc.
By arrangement with Zync Music Group LLC
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User Reviews

 
Absolutely charming
14 July 2013 | by See all my reviews

There's nothing to dislike about this movie. The actors do a terrific job all around--from the scene-stealing eyepatch kid to Allison Janey's lush to Steve Carrell's first role as a d-bag. Kudos to the kid playing Duncan and the guy playing his...boss? mentor? friend? saviour?--or all of the above. The scenery is lovely and convincingly real--no beach McMansions with $6,500 Wolf ranges. It shows what a real beach community looks like. The '70 Buick Estate Wagon is sublime and had me kvelling.

But it's the story that really makes the viewer smile. Duncan is a lost, lonely, mess...14, stuck with his mom whom he loves (but doesn't really respect), her douchebag boyfriend, boyfriend's daughter, and not much else. He finds his way in a way that defines a coming-of-age story. The Water Wizz guy--channeling Bill Murray in Meatballs in an obvious homage--does a great job, never losing sight of his own challenges in life while helping young Duncan emerge from his painful shell.


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