The Way, Way Back: Growing Up Is Hard to Do

Summers are so jam-packed with big movies that it is easy to miss the low-budget indies that rely on storytelling rather than special effects. I missed The Way, Way Back when it was in theaters, but thankfully we can now watch this summertime delight on DVD.

The movie is a classic coming-of-age tale about one boy's eventful summer. Duncan (Liam James) is an awkward fourteen-year old whose mother, Pam (Toni Colette), has taken up with an obnoxious man named Trent (Steve Carell). Pam is a good mother, but she is too preoccupied with her relationship to be concerned about Trent's casual mockery of her son. Trent's teenage daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin), is pretty and popular so she doesn't offer Duncan any solace either. They arrive in Trent's Cape Cod beach house for a summer vacation and meet the boozy neighbors (including Alison Janney, Amanda Peet, and Rob Corddry), who all act like they're Spring Break and don't care what the kids get up to.

Duncan is having a horrible summer until he discovers Water Wizz, a water park led by a charismatic man named Owen (Sam Rockwell). Intrigued by this awkward teen, Owen takes Duncan under his wing and provides a constant barrage of jokes until he can get Duncan to loosen up a little. He even gives Duncan a job at the water park, a move which rapidly bolsters his self-confidence and makes him happier than he's been in years. All of this is kept secret from his mom, who is gradually realizing that her life might not be as idyllic as she imagined.

The movie's writers and directors are Jim Rash and Nat Faxon, who won Oscars for their work on The Descendants. Like that movie, The Way, Way Back isn't strictly a comedy, but it's a funny drama. It has heavy moments, particularly whenever Duncan must confront the thoroughly repellent Trent, but the moments with Owen in the water park are full of light and joy, with a soundtrack that is sunny and uplifting. The opening and closing scenes of the movie are very similar, but Duncan's emotional growth is evident and you get the sense that our hero is going to be all right.

The Way, Way Back is a sweet summer movie that was crafted with a lot of love. It features a slew of comic actors who all put in fine work, and a heart-wrenching performance from Liam James. It deftly handles many coming-of-age tropes and is funny and warm. So seek it out and brighten up the cold winter months with a charming summer tale.