The Way Way Back is a simple coming of age story set over a summer in a seaside town in Massachusetts.  Duncan is 14 years old and is dragged along by his mother (played by Toni Collette) and her new boyfriend Trent to stay in a house by the beach.  Trent, played by Steve Carrell, is always on Duncan’s case, but does not live up to the standards he sets.  Duncan’s mother just goes along with what Trent says, and his older sister is unpleasant to him.  So when he stumbles across a local water park he is eager to spend time there rather than at home.  The place is run by Owen (played by Sam Rockwell) who has been working there for many years, but acts like a teenager, constantly cracking jokes and having fun.  Duncan is very shy but Owen is able to able to make him feel better about himself.  By the end of the movie, Duncan has stood up to Trent, he has made new friends at the water park, and he has kissed a girl.  The performances are excellent and the writing is strong.  It is a funny movie that brings home how difficult it can be for teens but gives a strong message about how it is possible for them to overcome those difficulties. 

© 2014 Christian Perring

Christian Perring, Professor of Philosophy, Dowling College, New York