Genre Grandeur – The Way Way Back (2013) – Encore Review 2 – MovieRob

For this month’s next review for Genre Grandeur – Family Vacation Movies, here’s a review of The Way Way Back (2013) by Me

Next month’s genre has been chosen by Darren Lucas of Movie Reviews 101 and we will be reviewing our favorite New York Films That Take Place Prior to 9/11.

Please get me your submissions by the 25th of Sep by sending them to pre9-11NYCDarren@movierob.net

Try to think out of the box!

Let’s see what I thought of this movie:

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“Built in the summer of ’83, it’s the last bastion of everything that time period stood for. In fact, it was decreed by its creator that this place shall never age. On his deathbed, he said: “I don’t want this place re-painted or updated. I don’t even want it brought up to code! And the minute someone tries, it needs to be destroyed.” We actually have a nuclear bomb for just such an occasion. Bought it off the Russians.” – Owen

Number of Times Seen – 3 Times (10 Oct 2013, 15 Oct 2019 and 31 Aug 2022)

Link to original review – Here and Here

Brief Synopsis – A teenager goes with his recently divorced mother and her new boyfriend to a ocean front community in New England for the summer.

My Take on it – This is a movie that I have always enjoyed so much ever since I first came across it 9 years ago.

The film is able to really mix together a nostalgic feel along with a modern one based on the wya that the the characters and story are built up.

The cast is superb and that helps make things feel so much more realistic as things move along.

Love the way that they allow the characters and situations to grow and don’t feel any real need to rush things as it progresses.

The diverse personalities of all of the characters also adds so much more weight to the genuine feel of the story.

Steve Carell is great in this kind of dramatic role and despite not being a very likable character, his actions can be understood even if his methods are not.

Sam Rockwell steals every scene he is in and really makes the viewer believe his fun loving, feel good laid back lifestyle throughout.

The water-park really seems like one from the 80’s and along with the station wagon, the story constantly made me forget that this is a contemporary film instead of one that is suppose to take place in the 80’s.

The dialogue is both fun and poignant in all that it does and that helps make things feel even more powerful along the way about the loss of innocence of childhood, but also the complexities of adulthood.

Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Sam Rockwell would often improvise and joke around on the loudspeaker during scenes. One time, forgetting that there were children around, he made an inappropriate joke about herpes, which upset the owner of the park. Rockwell had to go and apologize so that they could continue filming. (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10) (no change from original review)