The Way Way Back is a coming of age movie. It has some very sweet moments, some fairly embarrassing ones, lots of funny ones, rough ones, and enough drama to make it a realistic teen or reconstituted family life. The story will tug at everyone, especially those who have lived through divorce and step parents. The end is very solid, with no crazy stuff, just a little bit of self affirmation.
You just want to strangle Steve Carell, and Liam James truly is great as the hero of the tale, but my smile unsurprisingly goes to Sam Rockwell.
It's not spectacular or life quacking, but I highly recommend it.
8*/10
