The Way Way Back

Trailer- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qoaVUdbWMs

The Way Way Back- a title that annoys me possibly more than any film I've seen this year. I'm trying to link it to the film somehow but I just don't see how it relates. It also makes no sense, why the extra Way? Maybe I've missed something here. Despite the douche title the film is pretty good.

It's one of those indie 'coming of age' films where the main character goes on an emotional journey and learns something along the way. It's full of lots of silence between dialogue and lots of staring at the camera while soft acoustic guitar music playsmin the background. A bit Little Miss Sunshine, a bit Jeff Who Lives at Home, if you saw that the 7 days it was in the cinema last year.

Its a heartwarming journey for the most part. It's nice to see the main character Duncan go from being so miserable in a world that he doesn't fit in to to being so contented in a place he loves. It reminds me of going on a summer holiday when you were younger and meeting new friends and being really gutted when you had to leave them. This only happened once...but it I remember it well. It's actually really similar to that episode of the Simpsons when they go away to the beach cabin and Lisa meets cool new friends that accept her. The Way Way back is basically that episode of the Simpsons in film version with added family issues.

It's unusual to see Steve Carell in such an arsey villain role but he really pulls it off as Duncan's obnoxious step dad. Gone is the goofiness and silliness and instead there's a certain darkness that really makes you despise him. It's nice to see him play a role so different to what you usually see him as and even better to see him play it so well.

As nice as the film is there are a few moments that made me cringe a bit. There's a scene where Duncan is suddenly accepted into a group of kids who are all street dancing even though everyone else in the film so far has been hostile towards him. There's no reason why these people are any different but they all just seem to accept him as being cool as he starts dancing with them. Similarly there's no real reason for some of the characters to suddenly start being so friendly to him but they just do. Its a bit 'I've just met a weird kid who hardly speaks...let's be best friends and give him a job in my water park.'

I also find the style of these types of film a bit annoying. I find the scenes of silence and staring as if something deeper is happening just a little self indulgent.

It's a good example of a 'coming of age' film though and is very heartwarming. It's not so full of human emotion that it'' make you burst into tears but enough to absorb you into Duncan's world and feel the same feeling of acceptance and happiness he feels when things start to go right for him.

7/10