The Way, Way Back

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Brent H I watched this movie a few years ago and really enjoyed it. We were looking for something to watch as a family over the weekend, so I decided to revisit it so my wife and son could see it. There's a lot to love about "The Way, Way Back". Liam James is quite believable as "Duncan" ... an awkward teenager trying to figure out his place in the world. Sam Rockwell's character, "Owen," is the perfect counterpart to James' "Duncan." Most of the characters are also incredibly likable. Maya Rudolph, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash stand out despite being supporting roles. It's hard not to like Steve Carell, but he manages to play his character well as the cantankerous boyfriend of Duncan's mom, played by Toni Collette. This is as close to a big-screen version of a Hallmark movie as you can get. You walk away from this film with a smile on your face, feeling good. Except for a few exceptions, the characters are likable, uplifting, and humorous. A good film if you need a laugh, a smile, or an uplifting good time. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/29/25 Full Review Russell A Pretty good. I don’t get how people could call Trent a villain. I wish my step dad was half as nice to me as he was. He was a little bit of a jerk sometimes but nothing villainous. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/23/25 Full Review Ed R Despite its familiar themes, The Way Way Back makes use of its talented cast, finely tuned script, and an abundance of charm to deliver a funny and satisfying coming-of-age story. A very different role for Steve Carell. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/08/25 Full Review Tony S A divorced man with a daughter brings a divorced woman with a son to his beach house. The culture of the summer community is well known to him and his girlfriend and son try to adapt as well as they can. For the son, this is a coming of age story. For this mother, it's another reason for regret for another relationship decision that doesn't work out. I enjoyed this movie. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/03/25 Full Review Elle R This movie had potential but something was missing. The trailer was enticing with funny moments and a great cast. Honestly, how can you go wrong with Steve Carrel and Toni Collette? Unfortunately, while the writers clearly intended for some laugh-out-loud moments, I didn't laugh out loud once. I think the characters needed a little more background - maybe a few pre-vacation scenes before plunging them into the summer vacation. Steve Carrell's acting was great - I immediately understood he was a slime-ball as Duncan's mother's boyfriend, with absolutely no redeeming qualities. Toni Collette as Duncan's mother - her character fell short but it was clear that she wasn't interested in the mental welfare of her son. Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell stole the show. Janney's character as the "fun next-door neighbor" was similar to her character in Away We Go - making fun of her kid and never without a glass of alcohol in her hand. I wasn't fully rooting for Duncan until he connected with Rockwell's character, Owen. Owen, the manager of Water Wizz, saves Duncan from a miserable summer and provides him with an escape from a group of adults who are clearly more interested in their own fun than the kids'. Many pieces of the story seemed to come out of nowhere but there were a few mildly heartwarming moments. All in all, this movie isn't memorable - it certainly isn't The Sandlot. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review Shane H. Such a great message. One of my all time favorite movies Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Way, Way Back

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