The Way Way Back (2013)

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.

Directors:

Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Writers:

Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Stars:

Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney

5 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Carell	...	Trent
Toni Collette	...	Pam
Allison Janney	...	Betty
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Susanna
Sam Rockwell	...	Owen
Maya Rudolph	...	Caitlin
Liam James	...	Duncan
Rob Corddry	...	Kip
Amanda Peet	...	Joan
River Alexander	...	Peter
Zoe Levin	...	Steph
Nat Faxon	...	Roddy
Jim Rash	...	Lewis
Adam Riegler	...	Neil
Jeremy Weaver	...	Jason

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.

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Plot Keywords:

summer | water park | shy kid | unlikely friendship | friendship | 

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Taglines:

We've All Been There.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language, some sexual content and brief drug material

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 as Caitlyn, 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.

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Goofs

When Susannah (AnnaSophia Robb) closes the back door to the car after Duncan (Liam James) climbs in she pushes up from the bottom to close the door. A few minutes later when Duncan jumps out at the gas station the door opens sideways from the passenger side of the car.

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Quotes

Duncan: How long have you been working there?
Owen: Oh, the park? Um, I've always been there. Ever since I was a small Cambodian child. Of course, that was after 'Nam. I was in the shit. Then I joined the circus to become a clown fighter. I know about 46 ways to kill a clown. I hate clowns. I'm kidding except for the part where I really do hate them.

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Connections

Features Pac-Man (1980)

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Soundtracks

Out The Door
Written and Performed by Ben Kweller
Courtesy of The Noise Company LLC

User Reviews

Way Way to the top of my list as one of the best movies of 2013!

I have to go way way back in thinking of a coming-of-age summer comedic movie that made me feel so good, and in doing that the classic "Meatballs" comes to mind. The dynamic duo team of Nat Faxon & Jim Rash have swimmingly perfected a film that homages "Meatballs" and puts a new spin to it, without duplicating it; and that would be in their craft filmmaking of "The Way Way Back". The film stars teen actor Liam James as 14 year-old Duncan who is an isolated teen who despises the idea of taking a summer vacation with his timid mother Pam, her arrogant boyfriend Trent, and Trent's narcissistic daughter Steph. Their vacation spot is at Trent's beach house where nearby has a water park; I will slide into that one a little later in my review. Trent does have a few eccentric neighbors in his beach house which include the lush-filled gabby Betty, a divorcée with three kids; and also the vociferous couple Kip & Joan. Duncan is constantly ridiculed and excluded by Trent and Stephanie which puts him in the perpetual state of "I want to get the f*ck of out of here". However, in a twist of fate, Duncan befriends the vivacious water park employee Owen, perfectly played by Sam Rockwell. Consequently, Duncan starts to regularly visit the water park to hang with Owen and the other water park wacky employees. And before you know it, Duncan plummets himself to a part-time working gig at the park; unknowing to his mom and Trent. Duncan takes flight at the water park and you see the "coming-of-age" turn at every moment in his time there. Owen's character is very reminiscent of the Tripper character (played to the tee by Bill Murray) in "Meatballs". But Rockwell plays the part so superbly that it does not appear to be a Tripper duplication but instead a modern transformation within its Tripper homage; tripped out yet? Duncan also befriends Betty's teen daughter Susanna, who empathizes with Duncan's situation in dealing with a callous potential stepdaddy. Faxon & Rash's masterful direction & screenplay of "The Way Way Back" was not dead on the water; in fact- the vitality, humor, and tenderness they brought to the movie's direction & screenplay should hopefully land them in the wave of Oscar contenders for Best Director & Best Original Screenplay. As far as the thespian pool of the picture, I must state that it was a perfect ensemble. James showed potentiality that he will be on his way back to other leading roles with his fine work as Duncan. Steve Carell's performance as Trent showed the depth to his acting by playing a part non-typical to the Carell filmography; Trent was sure one heartless bastard, and Carell disappeared into the role. Toni Collette was spic & spam in her role as Duncan's mom Pam. Faxon & Rash themselves were a hoot playing two water park employees, Roddy and Lewis. Other supporting turns that were no lazy river works were of Anna Sophia Robb as Susanna, Rob Corddry & Amanda Peet who we had fun with as Kip & Joan, and Maya Rudolph as water park manager Caitlin; and I would be remiss if I did not mention the standout, scene-stealing performance from Allison Janney as the wickedly-hilarious Betty. Be it as it may, it was still Rockwell that stole the show here. His work in "The Way Way Back" should slide him into a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. "The Way Way Back" is a gem of a movie, and I hope it does not land "way way back" in your "movies to see" list; if for no better reason, you will be delaying time in missing one heck of a flick. ***** Excellent

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Way Back

Filming Locations:

Marshfield, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$552,788, 7 July 2013

Gross USA:

$21,506,546

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,474,920

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sycamore Pictures, The Walsh Company, MWM Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1