LRA writes: Writers/Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's coming-of-age tale The Way, Way Back is a bit of a revelation amidst a crowded summer of blockbusters and other bloated cinematic fare. It's casual honesty, its richly detailed and nuanced characters and their individual dilemmas or hardships makes for one of the most endearing and thoroughly enjoyable films of the year, let alone the summer. The marketing does have it a little wrong though, this isn't this year's Little Miss Sunshine or Juno, because it is better than both those films on nearly every level.
ges-sa.com | "What would you do if your mom’s new boyfriend is a real bully and your are stuck with him the whole summer on vacation….except pouting alot you join the local water park and its rag tag group of staff members. Duncan(Liam James) is forced to join his mom Pam(Toni Collette), her boyfriend Trent(Steve Carell) and Trent’s daughter Steph(Zoe Levin) for what is to be a nice holiday at a small vacation home in Cape Cod."
Clickonline writes: "It’s something the film is generally guilty of – presenting a show of depth or hilarity without ever really becoming a comedy or saying anything much at all. And while it might be entertaining enough at the time, it left my mind with little or no impression."
SonyRumors - Joel Dale reviews The Way Way Back:
"The opening moment of The Way Way Back is a make it or break it kind of deal. Steve Carell plays against type as Trent – father, divorcé, and new boyfriend to Toni Collette’s, Pam. She’s also a divorcé and also has a kid, Duncan. Trent is driving both families to his lake house and lays into Duncan (Liam James) telling him that on a scale of 1-10, he’s only a 3. This is one of those moments that is so strange and mean it’s hard to relate to. I’m sure there are fathers and boyfriends who’ve done similar things although I’m glad I’ve never met any. This first five minutes makes it incredibly obvious the film is going to focus on Trent’s abusive relationship to Duncan."
