Review of The Way Way Back (2013) by Jim H — 21 Feb 2015

It's rare that I hate a character so much I want to stop watching, but this is the case for this film. Duncan is the most unlikable character I have seen in recent memory, and he wasnt even an anti-hero, just a shitty teen. He was so awkward it hurt, and he never changed, the movie did. No respect for authority, no idea how to hold a conversation. Oh, I've been away and arrive with a strange man in a convertible? Nah mom, fuck you for asking where ive been. Oh, this man who is dating my mom is trying to help me/teach me how to be a decent person in spite of how terrible I am to everyone around me? No, fuck you man, lets make him the villian. Random girl who I literally cant talk to finds me interesting? How? The kid seems borderline autistic from her perspective based on every interaction. But wait, its ok, because she hates living there too!

So, they stuck this kid in a run-of-the-mill teen coming of age drama. All the pieces are there. Outcast at first, learns to be himself, not the person people want him to be. Wants to help his mother out of a troubled relationship, meets a fellow quirky girl who doesn't want to fit in as well. But guess what, its all so formulaic. If you want a good example of how to do this genre, watch The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

The ending was also terrible. Firstly, nobody at the pool would give two shits this kid just passed someone in the slide, so seeing the crowd cheering almost made me sick.(As did the breakdance scene, its like the writers dont know how actual people interact). As if the pool-going-community is there everyday and likes this awkward kid who never says a word and just hunches in the background, but not enough to be retarded so they cant give him pity claps. Then, they make Carell the villain at the end. Like, look at it from his perspective, kid who just ruined his entire summer, leaves his car and runs into a water park. When he goes to find him, he is agitated, and rightfully so. He doesn't understand the context for this pool/slide thing, this is the first he has ever seen it. And then the mom is all proud, because she has to be for the stroy to work. Terrible scene. Oh, but the movie ended the way it started, but with different perspective, it must have been a great movie!

Poor Sam Rockwell. He was an absolute scene stealer in this film. Toni Collette gave a great performance as well as the mother. Really sad they couldnt have given the movie a likeable protagisint, as this could have been solid.

Word of advice to writers, just because a kid is an awkward outcast doesn't mean he is likeable. Give the audience a reason to like him. Save the cat and all that.

Im done ranting. Im just aggravated because I heard nothing but good things about this, and it really could have been decent, but Duncan was so bad(performance was fine though, just terribly written).