So I haven't written here in quite a while. Long story short, since the last time I blogged I had gotten pretty sick, and well, I'm still recovering. Nevertheless, I wanted to get back to blogging. I had seen The Way, Way Back yesterday and I figured that would make a good subject for my next post.
I was first introduced to Jim Rash as the Dean-lightful Dean Pelton on Community. (For those who've never seen the show, the pun is a reference to the show, not my attempt at humor.) I had heard that he had written a movie called The Descendants and while I thought it was pretty cool and that I'd see it some day, I didn't really give it much thought otherwise. Then the movie started getting a lot of buzz, a bunch of award nominations, and eventually won an Oscar. So when it finally came to the theater in my little town, I had to see if it was as good as everyone said it was. (Yes. It was.) Then some months later I started watching a new show, Ben and Kate (which was equal parts hilarious and heartfelt and was sadly cancelled before its time) and I became familiarized with Nat Faxon, Jim Rash's writing partner and co-writer of The Descendants. So when I found out that the two of them had written another movie, this time an original screenplay (The Descendants is based on a book) I knew it would be up my alley.
I had read reviews of The Way, Way Back (which is also a directorial debut for Faxon and Rash) that compared it to Little Miss Sunshine and the similarities are there. The most obvious one being the casting of Steve Carell and Toni Collette. Both are also sweet, indie movies about road trips, familial bonds, and the feeling of not fitting in.
And in regards to that last point, I think the film shares more in common with the likes of The Perks of Being a Wallflower or The Wonder Years. Stories that draw you in not so much for the plot but for the relatability. There are a lot of coming of age tales out there, and not all of them are good. The truly good ones are the ones that remind you what it's like. The awkwardness, the confusion. The frustration of feeling like you don't connect with anyone, and the sheer joy that comes with finding out there are in fact people out there who get you.
If those are feelings you can relate too, and think pretty much all of us can, I think you'll enjoy The Way, Way Back Here's the trailer:
*I picked lyrics from a song that plays in the trailer as the subject. I couldn't think of a witty quote.
