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The Way Way Back

2013

Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Liam James, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell ...

6.3

5,453

Comedy. Drama The Way, Way Back tells the story of 14-year-old Duncan’s awkward, funny, and sometimes painful summer vacation with his mother, Pam, her overbearing boyfriend, Trent, and his daughter, Steph. Although Duncan has a tough time fitting in and finding his place, he does find an unlikely ally and mentor in Owen, a carefree employee at the local water park where Duncan gets a job. Over the course of the summer, as his mother drifts further ... [+]

	Author	Review
United States	Peter Debruge Variety	"The story (...) can be explosively funny in parts, but overall feels pretty familiar, relying more on its cast than the material to win favor"	NEU
United States	John DeFore The Hollywood Reporter	"Despite the familiarity of this setup, 'Way Back' is a charmer, putting refreshingly little emphasis on Duncan's romantic needs and allowing family melodrama to erupt and simmer down without pat resolution"	POS
United Kingdom	Damon Wise The Guardian	"There are plenty of comic moments.. .But 'The Way, Way Back' is very rarely laugh-out-loud funny. Unfortunately, neither is it very involving (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"	NEU
United States	Sam Adams Time Out	"Even by adolescence-is-hell standards, this poor sap is the embodiment of how ugly the so-called wonder years can be for some (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"	NEG
United States	Eric Kohn IndieWire	"Small touches point to a slightly better movie hiding beneath most of the routine (...) On the whole, however, 'The Way, Way Back' dances to a tune we've heard too many times before"	NEU
United States	Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"It turns the familiar into something bracingly fresh and funny (...) I'd rate this dream of a comedy a 10 out of 10, but I don't want to jinx it (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	A. O. Scott The New York Times	"'The Way, Way Back' has the charm of timelessness but also more than a touch of triteness"	NEU
United States	Claudia Puig USA Today	"With its subtle wit, engaging story, topnotch ensemble cast and sparkling dialogue, it's this summer's 'Little Miss Sunshine' (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"	POS

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