The Way Way Back

As a summer film season would have it, there are little gems tucked here and there to give us some sort of quality in an entertaining way. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I just want to revel in it, especially when it's a small comedy/drama entitled "The Way Way Back".It has a good deal of the same feel and flavor of another small independent film called "Little Miss Sunshine" back in 2006.

This is a funny and poignant coming of age story of 14 year-old Duncan's (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing, obnoxious boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a tough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious and fun-loving Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world-- all during a summer he will never forget.

Others to round out the cast are Allison Janney as Betty, Trent and Pam's obnoxious, but well-meaning neighbor, AnnaSophia Robb as Susanna, Betty's daughter, Maya Rudolph as Caitlin, co-worker of Owen's, Rob Corddry as Kip, Trent's buddy, Amanda Peet as Joan, another friend of Trent's, River Alexander as Peter, Betty's son, Nat Faxon as Roddy, another co-worker of Owen's, Jim Rash as Lewis, another co-worker of Owen's, and Adam Riegler as Neil, a kid at the water park.

This was directed with such realness and poignancy by Nat Faxon and And Jim Rash. The amazing thing here is that this is the first feature film these guys have directed. Undoubtedly, these guys will get future work, because this was incredibly well directed. It was also written by Faxon and Rash ("Adopted (TV movie) '05, "The Descendants" '11). Clearly, these guys are writers. The way they allowed this adolescent to transform from a withdrawn and insecure individual to a happier, a little more together guy with more hope to come was subtly conveyed. These guys will have you laughing and thinking all in the same breath. Sam Rockwell's Owen just shined as this guy who's real, honest, heart's on his sleeve type of guy. Amazing that Duncan could find solace in a water park guy, but couldn't with his mom's boyfriend or even his own mom.

I expected a funny and well written film with lots of dysfunction and many issues in which to deal with, but I had no idea that this would be as funny, poignant, and as well written as it turned out. In a summer where we have so-o much toilet, fart joke humor represented as comedies, it sure is encouraging to realize that there is still talented comedy writing out there.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                            Rated: PG-13                              103mins.