Review: The Way, Way Back

The Way, Way Back
Cert: 12A / 103 mins / Dir. Nat Faxon, Jim Rash



It's a rare, but pleasing thing when a film can be centered around teenage a protagonist, told exclusively from his point of view, but not be 'a film for kids'. The Way, Way Back is a straight-on coming of age story, documenting a Summer month or so in young Duncan's adolescent life, but it's presented in a way that adult viewers can relate to in hindsight, rather than one that teenagers will be able to use as a guidebook*¹. In many ways it's comparable to last year's Wallflower, but while also having a far fresher feel to it. While things never get quite as bleak as in Chbosky's movie, it's also true that the highs never quite match either.

But, The Way, Way Back's strength is that Duncan doesn't have an earth-shatteringly bad relationship with his family*², it's just the normal, awkward growing up stuff that a lot of kids have to go through. This isn't a one-in-a-million story, it's something that a large number of people will be able to relate to completely, and yet writer/directors Faxon and Rash ensure that we feel for Duncan at every turn without pitying or dismissing him. On that note, Liam James is fantastic in the central role; I'll be interested to see where he goes from here.

The only problem with the film is that it drags its heels a bit, even when everything's got going. Given that the story is told entirely from Duncan's perspective, we still see surprisingly little of how he actually spends a month of working days at the water-park. I wanted more of those scenes as they're the heart of the film, and they're needed to sell the culmination (which is still fantastic, but y'know). Bonus points go to the directors for giving themselves parts which aren't glaringly narcissistic, either.

A beautiful way to end the Summer, The Way, Way Back is a must-watch for anyone who was a shy, geeky kid. And since you're reading this on the internet, I'm going to assume that means you as much as it does me.

It's a rare, but pleasing thing when a movie feels like it's been made just for you. It's not perfect, but then neither's growing up. You should see this film.

It is.



I confess, I did.



For my money, yes, just about.



For me, cinema. Your mileage will vary.



I will a little, yes.



Yes.



There isn't. Strangely.

I think if the movie had avoided the use of mobile phones, it'd be beautifully timeless. What do you reckon?

*¹ Not that introverted teenagers won't be able to enjoy it, but the overriding message is 'everyone feels awkward at your age, stop dicking about and go and have some fun'. Which wasn't helpful to me at that age.
*² Yeah, Steve Carell plays a bit of an arsehole, but there are way worse stepfathers in the world. Duncan doesn't have it that bad.

DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.

Review: Identity Thief

Identity Thief
Cert: 15 / 111 mins / Dir. Seth Gordon



For a film with this title, I can't work out if the all-round lack of character and individuality is meant to be ironic. Surely we're getting to 'Outrageous Comedy' saturation point, now? That said, prior to Identity Thief, I sat through trailers for Scary Movie 5 and 21 And Over, and this seems like The Seventh Seal compared to those.

So. That trailer. That's the film. Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but with a fat woman instead of a fat man. Add on some half-arsed subplots about a bounty hunter and a couple of gangsters, and we're ready to roll. Still on board?

Now, this is only the third film I've seen Melissa McCarthy in, and I'm already sick of her shit. She's got a lengthy bio on IMDB, and I find it hard to believe she's coasted this far playing the same character, but so far I see no change. I suspect she can pull a much better performance, but I also suspect that she's doing exactly what director, Seth Gordon's asked of her. I don't find myself disliking McCarthy per se, just this thing she's been paid for doing.
Also guilty in this department is Jason Bateman who has been employed to play Jason Bateman™. Again. And I say that as someone who likes Jason Bateman, and Jason Bateman™.

So while Jason autopilots and thinks of the money, Melissa's irritating character consistently drags down what should be a fairly serviceable mismatched-buddy road movie. I can't blame her entirely, but it's like she's got too much personality for a screenplay this clockwork. So we go through the checklist of laughing at her punching people in the throat, laughing at her getting out of breath when she runs for ten metres, and then pausing thoughtfully to check our own preconceptions as she's given a miraculous makeover, some soft music plays and then she cries a bit. The problem is that a) there's no spark of likeability for the first hour that sells us her transformation, and b) Bateman never quite reaches the breaking point his character needs to, in order to reach his own character's destination.

I know I'm looking too deeply into the workings of the film, but they're asking people to pay £10 to watch this. The film's only saving graces are that it is frequently chucklesome, and that it's not as mean-spirited as many of its contemporaries. I can't hate it, because if Seth Gordon's not going to put in the effort, why should I?

At its very best, Identity Thief is completely average, and it doesn't manage that all of the time. For a road movie, there's a horrifying amount of cruise-control being applied here...

Yeah.



Kinda. Ish.



Kinda.



Telly. Do not pay cash to see this movie.



Yeah.



Possibly, when drinking at a friend's house.



Nope.





DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.