Coming of age movies. Love them? Hate them? Or are you just indifferent to them? Ever had the feeling you were all alone in the world as teen and didn't have as of yet the coping skills to deal with it all?
Welcome to the world of "The Way Way Back".
Yours truely went to the theatre today, and I saw that movie, "The Way Way Back." I was pleasantly surprised by how strong the theme of "The Way Way Back" is. And it's the theme of this movie that pushes it ahead of "Adventureland" (2009): Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and "Mud" (2013) Matthew McConahuey, Tye Sheridan which both deal with a similar male, coming of age, drama in a contemporary setting.
Coming out the gates strong, the central storyline of "The Way Way Back" deals with the way an older male takes under his wing and mentors youth in crisis, and sees him through a critical point in the boy's life. And the center of this movie is Owen's (Sam Rockwell) willingness to bond and provide refuge for troubled teen, Duncan (Liam James).
Now let's personalize the drama, which "The Way Way Back" attempts to rope you into. What were you like age 13-15? Can you remember what it was like during those awkward years? Gosh, can ever. Sure wish I had a hottie like Susanna played by Anna Sophia Robb pursuing me -- at least in part -- during that turbulent era in my own life. But, alas, I did not. (Only in the movies) I did have a weird encounter with the daughter of one my dad's associates from work that in retrospect I wish I'd made more of an attempt at, was too young, to naive, to realize the opportunity before me until it was too late. But that's water under the bridge. Thank God for the movies. They depict people making making those choices that we failed to make where we were young.
You see in "The Way Way Back" the central conflict comes via the inner dilemma a boy faces when he finds his relationship with his potential step-father is strained and he is seriously devalued in his eyes.
This leads Duncan on an escape quest. Where eventually he lands at a nearby water park, where an employee takes a liking to him and offers his a job/escape from the family he can no longer relate too. And it is in this relationship with offbeat, corny joke teller: Owen; that Duncan regains his footing, temporally finds a place he can belong, and finds a much needed place of solace for his soul.
Deep shit, Skippy. And anyone who dares to say Hollywood doesn't make movies that matter anymore, needs to look up and check this movie out for themselves, because "The Way Way Back" is deep and has a lasting theme worthy of you musing over long after the movie is over.
No, "The Way Way Back" isn't overly funny. And in it Steve Carell plays the arc nemeis of the main protagonist, Duncan. Steve Carell'scharacter is a shady guy with eyes on Duncan's mother (played by the always brilliant Tonni Collette) yet still has an exta-retationship hook-up with a friend in the local area who's he partying with everyday on a extended summer break.
Yeah, I found certain elements of "The Way Way Back" a bit far-fetched and non-realistic in the real world. Would an amusement park really just offer a kid a job on the spot like they did? And would a girl like Susanna really pursue Duncan like she did? And for working adults these people seemed like they were on a very, very long vacation. Aren't most vacations like 2 weeks -- not over a month long? Don't these adults have jobs to go back too? Hmmm.... Those were three major mental hurdles of the film; buy-in's you're expected to make.
But what this film excelled with was its theme of how an older mentor can impact the life a young teen in crisis: and that's exactly what Owen does for the troubled Duncan. And that's a theme that well worth the buy-in price.
I'll tell you right now, I never had such a mentor growing up. Wish I did. I grew up with a bunch of hick fucks. Wonder what I could have turned out to be if I had better friends and mentors during my formative years age 13 - 16...
I hear the Christian church constantly speak about the need for mentors for today's youth. And guess what, I'm in prime position to be such a guy! Unfortunately, I also live at home with my parents. Am in my mid-40s. Have no friends. Have no girlfriends. Thus I often think I'm not good enough to be anyone's role model. Rather, I have a stigma about myself that I think no one should ever attempt to emulate me; I am the plague. Thus I excuse myself from all such consideration. Better if today's youth is mentored by men that are worthy of emulation: in a committed relationship with a member of the opposite sex, and are leaders in today's society.
But enough about my own personal failings which are many.
This movie, "The Way Way Back" is deep. And I like that. I'm so glad Maya Rudolph, an SNL alum who also starred in "Bridesmaids", decided to participatein this movie. Yes, she has a minor role: Owen's love interest; but just her being there contributing to a movie with so strong a theme says something about her as an actress. I heart Maya Rudolph!!
Movies like "The Way Way Back" are movies that you can easily ignore. They're drama. Usually not in the theatres for long. But movies like "The Way Way Back" are important, lasting movies. They say something definitive about the human condition, and actually give you a take-away message that lasts long after you leave the movie theatre. So think about that, and please support movies like "The Way Way Back." America needs more movies like that. Way to go Fox Searchlight! America needs more movies with substance like "The Way Way Back." Movies for today's teens and adults alike to consider. Movies with a lasting take-away message like the need for male mentors for today's youth.