In the appealing coming of age story The Way, Way Back, a betrodden teen (Liam James) gains confidence when mentored at his summer job by a lowlife (Sam Rockwell). The kid’s mom (Toni Collette) has been rocked by a divorce (hubby found a young thing), and has rediscovered some self esteem in the attentions of a creep (Steve Carrell). Now the kid, his mom, her insufferable boyfriend and the boyfriend’s bratty daughter are off to his summer home on the Atlantic shore. The kid finds a job at a cheesy local water park, and funny stuff happens.
In depicting the ways that parents make their teen kids miserable, The Way, Way Back is spot on. I’m not talking about the uncool cluelessness that makes all teens embarrassed about the even most perfect parents. The Way, Way Back focuses on children from broken marriages who are made to feel unvalued or whose weaknesses are picked at or whose parents become too involved with their own issues. Indeed all the kids in The Way, Way Back come from divorced families. Even one childless marriage (Rob Corddry from Warm Bodies and Amanda Peet) is very imperfect.
Collette’s performance nails the desperation of a woman, once abandoned, for a relationship that will meet at least some of her needs. Alison Janney is hilarious as the neighboring divorcee who is embracing her alcoholism. The rest of the cast, including Maya Rudolph, is good, too. Give credit to Carrell for taking on a very unsympathetic role, something not every bankable star will do.
It may not be a Must See, but The Way, Way Back is sweet, perceptive and pretty funny.