The Way, Way Back

Name: The Way, Way Back
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 5, 2013
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Allison Janney, Amanda Peet, AnnaSophia Robb, Liam James, Maya Rudolph

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 228 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 228 Ratings

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The Way Way Back

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: July 5, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: Allison Janney, Amanda Peet, AnnaSophia Robb, Liam James, Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry, Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell, Toni Collette

Summary: Over the course of a summer, 14-year-old Duncan comes into his own thanks in part to the friendship he strikes up with a carefree employee at the local water park where he gets a job.

Director: Jim Rash and Nat Faxon

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Steve Persall

Jul 17, 2013

The jokes are often double-edged, the performances always spot-on. The Way, Way Back doesn't re-invent the teenage turning point genre, but Faxon and Rash offer a breezy new spin. You'll see more inventive movies this year but few more endearing. Read full review

Peter Travers

Jul 8, 2013

The Way Way Back gets it wittily, thrillingly right. It turns the familiar into something bracingly fresh and funny. It makes you laugh, then breaks your heart. Read full review

James Mottram

Aug 24, 2013

If the Collette/Carell reunion suggests Little Miss Sunshine, it’s not quite that crowd-pleasing. But, crafted with much TLC and sympathy, it’s perfectly tailored to the tongue-tied teen in us all. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Jul 1, 2013

The performances and the ready supply of one-liners make this an amusing look at a new generation getting lost down memory lane. Read full review

John DeFore

Feb 26, 2013

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. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Feb 26, 2013

The story of a teen desperate for a father figure who finds encouragement from a wild-and-crazy water-park employee -- rather than from the guy auditioning to be his stepdad -- can be explosively funny in parts, but overall feels pretty familiar, relying more on its cast than the material to win favor. Read full review

Chris Cabin

Jun 29, 2013

Praises the electric carelessness of teenage angst while depicting it as if it were ultimately no more exciting, though no less pleasant, than an hour in the wave pool. Read full review

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User Reviews

csw12

Nov 9, 2013

The Way, Way Back is one of the best films of the year. The strength of the film is making you feel for the main character for what he is going through. It mixes comedy and emotion perfectly and gives an ending that simply is remarkable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheRealPoloG

Nov 15, 2022

The movie is amazing. The story is very relatable as if shows the story of a kid battling social anxiety and how he over comes it. Anyone who dislikes this movie smoking that good good

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

McLaughlinViews

Aug 30, 2013

So 'The Way, Way Back' was just released in England, and because I'm a huge fan of 'Little Miss Sunshine' I checked it out. I wasn't disappointed. GREAT FILM! Absolutely hilarious, it found that perfect line between comedy and sad reflection, which 'Little Miss Sunshine' did so well, you canSo 'The Way, Way Back' was just released in England, and because I'm a huge fan of 'Little Miss Sunshine' I checked it out. I wasn't disappointed. GREAT FILM! Absolutely hilarious, it found that perfect line between comedy and sad reflection, which 'Little Miss Sunshine' did so well, you can really feel the presence of the producers in this film which if you're in doubt of whether to see this film or not should reassure you.

Acting wise the entire cast was great, I enjoyed seeing Carrell in a bad guy role, as he doesn't normally do that, essentially he is a "C U Next Tuesday" in this film, which is great, he performs the role perfectly. Sam Rockwell was brilliant. As were the rest of the cast not a single bad performance. A mesmerizing ensemble cast.

All in all this was a great film, it is a great summer movie, I love that line where you can take a situation as either comedy or sadness, it makes the film more personal to the viewer, which this film is brilliant at. I love the way that when the film makes you sad it is always going to bring you back to being happy with hilarious scenes, dialogue and situation humor.

INCREDIBLE FILM and a must see.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

RevRon

Nov 7, 2013

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story. While the story of an awkward teenager coming out of his shell thanks to the wisdom of a glorified goofball/slacker is nothing really new, writers/directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash made the film feel fresh and unique. The funny parts are reallyI really enjoyed this coming-of-age story. While the story of an awkward teenager coming out of his shell thanks to the wisdom of a glorified goofball/slacker is nothing really new, writers/directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash made the film feel fresh and unique. The funny parts are really funny and the drama is blended perfectly to give the film a very human approach. Add in great performances from Liam James, Steve Carell, Toni Collette and, most importantly, Sam Rockwell and you have the makings of a very endearing, very amusing movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HonestReviews9

Feb 18, 2015

Either Liam James is a brilliant actor or is so naturally awkward I could just punch him in the face. Steve Carrel shows he is more then just a character to laugh at and can deliver a performance unlike any other he has done before while still being believable. Sam Rockwell made this movieEither Liam James is a brilliant actor or is so naturally awkward I could just punch him in the face. Steve Carrel shows he is more then just a character to laugh at and can deliver a performance unlike any other he has done before while still being believable. Sam Rockwell made this movie wonderful along with his supporting cast and excellent writing from Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. From start to finish I enjoyed this movie even though I wanted to punch the main character in the face to toughen him up. I couldn't help but smile all the way through. i would give it an 8-8.5 but this rating system doesn't let me do decimals.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GeorgeBailey

Sep 7, 2013

While critics are always on the lookout for the next Citizen Kane and score poorly when a film fails to come up to scratch those who aren't paid to go to the movies are on the lookout for good entertainment for 90 minutes. This delivers.

Warm, touching, funny, well-played What's not toWhile critics are always on the lookout for the next Citizen Kane and score poorly when a film fails to come up to scratch those who aren't paid to go to the movies are on the lookout for good entertainment for 90 minutes. This delivers.

Warm, touching, funny, well-played What's not to like in this movie? Liam James is good as the teenager at the centre of the story and Rockwell, Carell and Collette give great support.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Taplinger

Nov 27, 2013

There are good movies, bad movies, and movies so south of bad that I had to walk out early on. It's so much worse than terrible that it was painful to sit through the "humor." I don't know whether to be more surprised that only two users rated it negative or that so many people liked it. IThere are good movies, bad movies, and movies so south of bad that I had to walk out early on. It's so much worse than terrible that it was painful to sit through the "humor." I don't know whether to be more surprised that only two users rated it negative or that so many people liked it. I am certainly surprised that Andrew O'Heir gave it 80. Basically you have parents who treat their children terribly, which isn't funny, and running gags like unsuccessful lazy eye surgery that really isn't funny. Add to that the fact that Janney either has no flair for comedy or her director has no talent for comedy, or both.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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