The Way, Way Back

Last updated

The Way, Way Back
The Way, Way Back Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
  • Nat Faxon
  • Jim Rash
Produced by
  • Kevin J. Walsh
  • Tom Rice
Starring
Cinematography John Bailey
Edited by Tatiana S. Riegel
Music by Rob Simonsen
Production
companies
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • January 21, 2013 (2013-01-21)(Sundance)
  • July 5, 2013 (2013-07-05)(United States)
Running time
103 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million [2] [3]
Box office$26.9 million [3]

The Way, Way Back is a 2013 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash in their directorial debuts. It stars Liam James as Duncan, an introverted 14-year-old who goes on summer vacation to Wareham, Massachusetts, with his mother and her overbearing boyfriend. It also stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, and Maya Rudolph, with Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet, Faxon, and Rash in supporting roles.

Contents

Faxon and Rash conceived the film in the early 2000s, but it spent several years in development hell before funding could be secured. Filming lasted several months during summer 2012. It premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, [4] where Fox Searchlight Pictures (which also distributed The Descendants , co-written by Faxon and Rash) acquired distribution rights to it. The film was theatrically released in the United States on July 5, 2013, where it received positive reviews and was a box office success, grossing $26.9 million against its $5 million budget.

Plot

Introverted 14-year-old Duncan from Albany, New York, reluctantly goes on summer vacation to a beach house in Wareham, Massachusetts, with his mother Pam, her wealthy boyfriend Trent, and Trent's arrogant, spoiled daughter Steph. Trent and Steph are frequently condescending towards Duncan.

On the way to the beach house, Trent asks Duncan to rate himself on a scale of one to ten. Duncan says six, but Trent refutes that and states that he's a three. At the house they are greeted by their neighbors: gregarious, heavy-drinking Betty, her children Susanna and Peter, and married couple Kip and Joan. Later that evening, Duncan and Susanna have an awkward conversation from their adjacent porches.

Duncan discovers a small girl's bicycle in the garage, which he uses to explore the town. At a pizzeria he meets Owen, a worker at the local water park, Water Wizz. Owen takes Duncan under his wing and introduces him to the park's employees: Caitlin, Lewis, and Roddy. Several youths at the water park speak reverently of a legendary pass in the tube slide, wondering how it could have been done. Owen hires Duncan for odd jobs at the park.

Duncan is continually neglected by Pam, who indulges in drinking, staying out late, and smoking marijuana with other adult vacationers. At a Fourth of July cookout, Susanna invites him to go hunting for ghost crabs with her and Peter, where they both open up about their absent fathers. Later that night, Duncan witnesses Trent and Joan kissing, but does not tell anyone.

Pam begins to suspect Trent is having an affair, but he dissuades her of this notion. Later, Duncan confronts Pam in front of the others and tells her to leave Trent. When Trent interjects, Duncan insults and shoves him; Trent indignantly tells Duncan his father does not want him.

Duncan flees, and Susanna follows him to offer comfort. When he tries to kiss her, she rejects him, upsetting him even more. Accompanied by Peter, Duncan sneaks away to Water Wizz, where Owen is throwing a going-away party for Lewis.

Duncan spends the night with his friends at Water Wizz, refusing to leave in the morning. He opens up to Owen about his home situation, and how Water Wizz is the only place where he feels accepted. A sympathetic Owen recalls his own upbringing where he was forced to abide by strict rules and advises Duncan to disregard Trent's criticisms and be himself.

When Duncan returns to the beach house, Pam tells him they are all leaving. Betty and her kids arrive to say their goodbyes, and Susanna kisses Duncan. They leave in a station wagon, with Duncan in the rear area ("The Way Way Back"). When Trent stops for gas on their way out of town, Duncan jumps out using the tailgate of the station wagon and runs to Water Wizz, followed by his mother, Trent, and Steph.

Duncan tells Owen and the other employees that he has to leave, and goes with Owen to the Devil's Peak slide. Duncan becomes the first person to ever pass someone in the water slide while the rest of the park staff and attendees watch.

After finally introducing Owen to his mother, Duncan bids everyone at the park goodbye. Owen speaks fondly of Duncan to Pam, and introduces himself to Trent as "a good friend of the 'three'". Trent attempts to bypass Owen in order to bring Duncan back to the car, but Owen blocks him and Trent retreats. Duncan hugs Owen and thanks him for his kindness. Trent, Steph, Pam, and Duncan regroup in the station wagon, where Pam finally stands up for herself as they head out of town. Pam climbs to the back area of the station wagon (the "way back") where Duncan is sitting, despite Trent's protests, and they share a smile.

Cast

Reception

Box office

The film had its premiere screening at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. [4] It was one of the most financially successful films to come out of the festival that year, outperforming well-known entries and Oscar-nominated films from the previous year. [5] It was released on July 5, 2013 in 19 theaters and surpassed box office expectations, averaging an impressive $30,263 per screen and grossing $525,000 for the weekend. [6] On July 15, 2013, it was added to an additional 60 theaters and grossed $1.1 million. It ended up earning $21.5 million in North America and $5 million elsewhere, for a total of $26.5 million. [7] [8]

Critical response

The Way, Way Back received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a rating of 83% based on 185 reviews, with an average score of 7.30/10. The website's critical consensus states, "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". [9] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 based on 41 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [10]

Inkoo Kang of The Village Voice called the film "a crowd-pleasing summer treat, predictable in its sweetness but satisfying all the same". [11] BBC Radio 5 Live film critic Mark Kermode praised the performances of Sam Rockwell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney and Maya Rudolph and similarly reasoned that whilst "it's not world-changing, or earth-shattering" the film is "really sweet and funny". [12] David Gritten of The Daily Telegraph also praised the scene-stealing performances of Janney and Rockwell, concluding that despite a flood of similar coming-of-age films released in 2013 the film "feels warm, funny—and even fresh". [13] Catherine Shoard of The Guardian gave the film a positive review, concluding that "for all the longueurs, there are still enough moments of near brilliance to sustain you through the trip". [14] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times commended the film's quirky dialogue and cast performances, calling the film "witty, heartwarming, hopeful, sentimental, searing and relatable". [15]

Sam Rockwell's performance was met with critical praise, with many critics agreeing that his performance was deserving of an Academy Award nomination. [16] [17] MaryAnn Johanson of Flick Filosopher said that Rockwell "makes the biggest splash with a sizzling supporting performance. Not only is he naturally funny, but he has the great ability to make every sharp line of dialogue sound freshly improvised." [18]

A.A. Dowd of The A.V. Club gave the film a C+, describing it as "generically constructed" and "never as refreshing as it's constantly straining to be". [19]

Accolades

List of Awards and Nominations
AwardCategoryRecipientsResult
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards [20] Best Comedy The Way, Way BackWon
Critics' Choice Movie Awards [21] Best Comedy Nominated
Best Actor in a Comedy Sam Rockwell Nominated
Best Young Actor/Actress Liam James Nominated
MTV Movie Awards [22] Best Breakthrough Performance Liam JamesNominated
Online Film Critics Society [23] Best Supporting ActorSam RockwellNominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards 2013 [24] Best Actor in a Supporting RoleSam RockwellNominated
Best Ensemble ActingNominated
Breakthrough Performance on CameraLiam JamesNominated
Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role – MaleLiam JamesNominated
San Diego Film Critics Society [25] Best Supporting ActorSam RockwellNominated
Best Ensemble PerformanceNominated
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association [26] Best ComedyNominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association [27] Best Acting EnsembleNominated
Best Youth PerformanceLiam JamesNominated
Young Artist Awards [28] Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film Liam JamesNominated
Best Supporting Young Actor in a Feature Film River Alexander Nominated

Soundtrack

Heather Phares of AllMusic gave the film's soundtrack 7 out of 10 stars, saying:

The charming coming of age comedy The Way Way Back soundtracks its tale of 14-year-old Duncan's fateful summer working at the Water Wizz water park with bouncy '80s hits and indie rock. ... While the collection isn't as consistent as the soundtracks to like-minded films such as Juno or Little Miss Sunshine , it still has enough personality to be an entertaining set of songs. [29]

  1. "For the Time Being" – Edie Brickell/The Gaddabouts
  2. "Kyrie" – Mr. Mister
  3. "Out the Door" – Ben Kweller
  4. "Come and See" – Young Galaxy
  5. "Running Wild" – Army Navy
  6. "Young Blood" – UFO
  7. "Shine" – Wild Belle
  8. "New Sensation" – INXS
  9. "Sneaking Sally Through the Alley" – Robert Palmer
  10. "Young at Heart" – The Rondo Brothers/Tim Myers
  11. "Recess" – Eli "Paperboy" Reed
  12. "Power Hungry Animals" – The Apache Relay
  13. "Alone" – Trampled by Turtles
  14. "Go Where the Love Is" – Edie Brickell/The Gaddabouts
  15. "The Way Way Back" – Rob Simonsen [29]

Other songs

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Statham</span> English actor (born 1967)

Jason Statham is an English actor, producer, and former model and diver. He is known for portraying tough, gritty, or violent characters in various action thriller films, and has been credited for leading the resurgence of action films during the 2000s and 2010s. By 2017, his films had grossed over £1.1 billion, making him one of the industry's most bankable stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Rockwell</span> American actor (born 1968)

Sam Rockwell is an American actor. He is known for playing distressed police officer Jason Dixon in Martin McDonagh’s crime drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated in the same category the following year for portraying George W. Bush in Adam McKay's political satire Vice (2018). In 2019, he portrayed Bob Fosse in the FX biographical miniseries Fosse/Verdon, earning a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award, and in 2022, he received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the Broadway revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo.

<i>Lawn Dogs</i> 1997 film by John Duigan

Lawn Dogs is a 1997 British fantasy-drama film directed by John Duigan and starring Mischa Barton and Sam Rockwell. The film tells the story of a precocious young girl (Barton) from a gated community who befriends a landscape worker (Rockwell), and examines the societal repercussions of their friendship. Written by Naomi Wallace, the film was released by Rank Organisation, and was the company's last production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Greer</span> American actress (born 1975)

Judith Therese Evans, known professionally as Judy Greer, is an American actress. She is primarily known as a character actress who has appeared in a wide variety of films. She rose to prominence for her supporting roles in the films Jawbreaker (1999), What Women Want (2000), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Elizabethtown (2005), 27 Dresses (2008), and Love & Other Drugs (2010).

<i>The Wackness</i> 2008 film by Jonathan Levine

The Wackness is a 2008 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Jonathan Levine. The film is a semi-autobiographical account of Levine's life growing up in New York City in the 1990s. It stars Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Method Man. It revolves around a troubled teenage drug dealer who trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Rash</span> American actor, comedian, and filmmaker (born 1971)

James "Jim" Rash is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He played Dean Craig Pelton on the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015), for which he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2012.

<i>Moon</i> (2009 film) 2009 film by Duncan Jones

Moon is a 2009 science fiction film directed by Duncan Jones and written by Nathan Parker from a story by Jones. The film follows Sam Bell, a man who experiences a personal crisis as he nears the end of a three-year solitary stint mining helium-3 on the far side of the Moon. Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott, Kaya Scodelario, Benedict Wong, Matt Berry, and Malcolm Stewart also star. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and was released in selected cinemas in New York and Los Angeles on 12 June 2009. The release was expanded to additional theatres in the United States on 10 July and to the United Kingdom on 17 July. A follow-up film containing an epilogue to the film's events, Mute, was released in 2018. A third installment, a graphic novel called Madi: Once Upon a Time in the Future, was released in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nat Faxon</span> American actor (born 1975)

Nat Faxon is an American actor and comedian. A frequent presence on comedic films and TV series, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants (2011). He starred in the Fox comedy series Ben and Kate (2012–2013) and the FX comedy series Married (2014–2015), and voices Elfo in the Netflix adult animated television series Disenchantment (2018–2023). He also co-wrote and co-directed The Way, Way Back (2013) and Downhill (2020) with writing partner Jim Rash.

Gasland is a 2010 American documentary film written and directed by Josh Fox. It focuses on communities in the United States where natural gas drilling activity was a concern and, specifically, on hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"), a method of stimulating production in otherwise impermeable rock. The film was a key mobilizer for the anti-fracking movement, and "brought the term 'hydraulic fracturing' into the nation's living rooms" according to The New York Times.

<i>My Brother the Devil</i> 2012 British film

My Brother the Devil is a 2012 British crime drama film written and directed by Sally El Hosaini. It stars James Floyd, Fady Elsayed and Saïd Taghmaoui. It tells the story of two sons of Egyptian immigrants coming of age in east London. It was released in the UK on 9 November 2012 and debuted in US cinemas on 22 March 2013. It was also released in Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

<i>The Spectacular Now</i> 2013 film directed by James Ponsoldt

The Spectacular Now is a 2013 American coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by James Ponsoldt, from a screenplay written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Tim Tharp. It stars Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley as high-schoolers Sutter and Aimee, whose unexpected encounter leads to a romance blossoming between the two. Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bob Odenkirk, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Kyle Chandler are featured in supporting roles.

<i>Life Itself</i> (2014 film) 2014 American film

Life Itself is a 2014 American biographical documentary film about Chicago film critic Roger Ebert, directed by Steve James and produced by Zak Piper, James and Garrett Basch. The film is based on Ebert's 2011 memoir of the same name. It premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was an official selection at the 67th Cannes Film Festival. The 41st Telluride Film Festival hosted a special screening of the film on August 28, 2014. Magnolia Pictures released the film theatrically in the United States and simultaneously via video on demand platforms on July 4, 2014.

<i>Tammy</i> (film) 2014 American film by Ben Falcone

Tammy is a 2014 American road comedy film directed and co-written by Ben Falcone and produced, co-written by, and starring Melissa McCarthy as the title character. The film also stars Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, Nat Faxon, Toni Collette, Sandra Oh, with Dan Aykroyd, and Kathy Bates. The film tells the story of a woman named Tammy who hits the road with her profane, alcoholic grandmother after finding out her husband is cheating. Tammy was released in theaters on July 2, 2014.

Ava Deluca-Verley is an American television and film actress who is best known for her role in NBC's comedy series Growing Up Fisher, playing the daughter of Jenna Elfman and J. K. Simmons's characters. She is of French descent.

<i>Whiplash</i> (2014 film) 2014 film by Damien Chazelle

Whiplash is a 2014 American psychological drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle, starring Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, and Melissa Benoist. It focuses on an ambitious music student and aspiring jazz drummer (Teller), who is pushed to his limit by his abusive instructor (Simmons) at the fictional Shaffer Conservatory in New York City.

<i>Tallulah</i> (film) 2016 film directed by Sian Heder

Tallulah is a 2016 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Sian Heder and starring Elliot Page, Allison Janney, and Tammy Blanchard. The film revolves around a young woman who unexpectedly takes a baby from her irresponsible mother and pretends the child is her own. Without a place to stay, the woman asks for help from her ex-boyfriend's mother, telling her the baby is her granddaughter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin J. Walsh</span> American film producer

Kevin J. Walsh is an American film and TV producer. Walsh is best known for producing the critically acclaimed films Napoleon, House of Gucci, and Manchester by the Sea, in which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture with Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, and Lauren Beck. The film received 18 major award nominations and won two Academy Awards.

<i>Bad Education</i> (2019 film) 2019 film directed by Cory Finley

Bad Education is a 2019 American crime drama film directed by Cory Finley and written by Mike Makowsky. It is based on the 2004 New York magazine article "The Bad Superintendent" by Robert Kolker, about the true story of the largest public school embezzlement in American history. It features an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan, Alex Wolff, Rafael Casal, Stephen Spinella, Annaleigh Ashford and Ray Romano.

<i>Downhill</i> (2020 film) 2020 comedy drama film

Downhill is a 2020 American black comedy-drama film directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who also co-wrote the script with Jesse Armstrong. The film is a remake of Force Majeure (2014) by Swedish director Ruben Östlund. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell as a married couple going through a rough patch after a near-death encounter during a family ski outing.

<i>Loot</i> (TV series) American comedy television series

Loot is an American comedy television series created by Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang that premiered on June 24, 2022, on Apple TV+. It follows newly single 45-year-old Molly Wells, whose divorce from her tech billionaire ex-husband has made her the third-wealthiest woman in the US, as she decides to run the day-to-day work of the charitable foundation she forgot she founded, much to its employees' chagrin.

References

  1. ↑ "THE WAY WAY BACK (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. May 16, 2014. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  2. ↑ Chai, Barbara (July 3, 2013). "The Water Park Behind 'The Way, Way Back'". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "The Way Way Back (2013) – Financial Information". The Numbers . Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "The Way, Way Back". Sundance Film Festival . The Sundance Institute. Archived from the original on December 30, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  5. ↑ Cunningham, Todd (August 8, 2013). "Sundance 2013 Pickups Are Outperforming Last Year's Crop". TheWrap . Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  6. ↑ Knegt, Peter (July 8, 2013). "Specialty Box Office: 'Way, Way Back' Scores Strong Debut; 'Midnight' Tops 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset'". IndieWire . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  7. ↑ "The Way, Way Back – International Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "The Way Way Back". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Way Way Back (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Way Way Back Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  11. ↑ Kang, Inkoo (July 3, 2013). "The Way, Way Back Offers a Sugar High, but Not Much More". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  12. ↑ Kermode, Mark (August 30, 2013). "Mark Kermode reviews The Way, Way Back". Kermode and Mayo's Film Review . BBC. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  13. ↑ Gritten, David (August 29, 2013). "The Way, Way Back, review". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on September 5, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  14. ↑ Shoard, Catherine (August 29, 2013). "The Way, Way Back – review". The Guardian . Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  15. ↑ Sharkey, Betsy (July 4, 2013). "Movie review: The Way, Way Back has a sweet side and a sting – review". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  16. ↑ Seibert, Perry. "The Way Way Back Review". TV Guide . Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  17. ↑ Movieline (July 8, 2013). "The Way Way Back – Movie Review". Archived from the original on November 27, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2015– via YouTube.
  18. ↑ Johanson, MaryAnn (August 27, 2013). "The Way, Way Back review: how to escape from your family". Flick Filosopher. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  19. ↑ Dowd, A.A. (July 4, 2013). "The Way, Way Back". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  20. ↑ Sikaly, Andrea (January 6, 2014). "AARP Names '12 Years a Slave' Best Movie for Grownups". Variety . Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  21. ↑ Website Administrator (December 16, 2013). "19th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards Nominations". Critics' Choice Awards. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  22. ↑ Oldenburg, Ann (March 6, 2014). "MTV announces 2014 Movie Award nominees". USA Today . Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  23. ↑ Renninger, Bryce J. (December 9, 2013). "Online Film Critics Announce Nominees; Miyazaki and To Surprise with Multiple Nominations". IndieWire. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Phoenix Film Critics Society 2013 Award Nominations". Phoenix Film Critics Society. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  25. ↑ Tapley, Kristopher (December 10, 2013). "2013 San Diego Film Critics Society nominations". HitFix . Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  26. ↑ Tapley, Kristopher (December 9, 2013). "2013 St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association nominations". HitFix. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  27. ↑ Tapley, Kristopher (December 8, 2013). "2013 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association winners". HitFix. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  28. ↑ "2014 Nominations & Results". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  29. 1 2 Phares, Heather (July 3, 2013). "The Way Way Back – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic . Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  30. ↑ CdmScott (July 12, 2013). "The Way, Way Back". Cinema de Merde. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.