THE WAY,WAY BACK (2013) *** Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet, River Alexander, Zoe Levin, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash. Summer vacation coming-of-age comedy with mopey teen James forced to stay with his mom and her jerk boyfriend for the season and makes the most of it by discovering a new life at the local water park. With a fine ensemble cast (including writers/novice-directing team Faxon and Rash) the film coasts on its breezy screenplay and fun field day run by Rockwell (getting in touch with his inner Bill Murray/Walter Matthau) as the slacker employee who befriends the kid but the tenuous tension by the abrasive miscasting of Carell sinks the possibility of a dramedy (or even a real moment of James getting even with the jerk stepfather-wannabe). Echoes of "The Flamingo Kid", "Meatballs" and "Adventureland".
Review of The Way Way Back
The Way Way Back
(2013)
Echoes of "The Flamingo Kid", "Meatballs" and "Adventureland". Rockwell steals the movie.
16 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers