The Way, Way Back ★★★★½
“I THINK you’re a 3”. So starts The Way, Way Back one of my favourite films of the last few years.
Made in 2013, this is a wonderful coming-of-age movie featuring a fantastic ensemble cast and characters.
The film opens with shy teenager Liam (James Duncan) being told by his mother’s new boyfriend (played by Steve Carell) that he is a 3 out of 10 in terms of his character and approach to life.
Liam and his mother (Toni Collette) are going on vacation to her new boyfriend’s summer beach-house, accompanied by his daughter. The dysfunctional group are trying to decide whether they have a future as a family.
Liam is a typical teenager low on self-esteem, made worse by Carrell’s character who is an insidious bully. Liam’s mother cannot see past the opportunity to embark on a new love affair and potential life-partner.
The boyfriend has been a regular visitor to the beach-house over many years and has built up a group of friends. Attempting to avoid this alienating atmosphere, Liam goes exploring during the day and ends up with a part-time job at the Water Wizz amusement park
This ageing relic is run (badly) by Owen, a knock-about, sardonically funny, regular guy in his late-30s who, like Liam, still hasn’t quite found his role in life.
The two are drawn together in a beautifully natural way and, by summer’s end, Liam has found enough confidence to question, in a series of dramatic moments, the boyfriend’s commitment, his mother’s choices and his own self-esteem.
The Way, Way Back is extremely well written and the acting is first-rate. Sam Rockwell is brilliant as the wise-cracking Owen and seems born to play the part, as does James Duncan as Owen.
Carrell and Collete are terrific and there are great supporting performances all-round, particularly from Alison Janney as their beach-house neighbour.
Every teenage boy needs an Owen, somebody who recognises them for what they are at that moment in time and helps bring their best attributes to the surface.
I’ve seen this movie five times and never tire of it.