Movie Night: The Way Way Back

Netflix disks are controlled by Stacey, so I usually have no idea what movie is arriving next. And I usually have no idea about the movie when it shows up. I don't keep track of such things in the news.

So, here is a movie that looks like a standard coming of age movie. Not so standard after all. There were many, many things to like about this movie and almost nothing to dislike.

Things to like: The movie takes place mostly at a water park. Lots of young people ( early teens through 20s ) and all with regular bodies. I didn't see a single young woman who I thought really needed to eat a cheeseburger. No ridiculously muscled teenage boys. Really. It looked real which is not what a San Diego beach looks like. This impressed me so much that I had to mention it to Stacey twice.

While it does have brief moments about a 14 year-old boy's sex drive, it isn't stupid about it. It is mostly about a 14 year-old feelings of not belonging and feelings of inadequacy. Beautifully done.

The main adult male grows up right along with the teen. This is too be expected. But we aren't beat up with it. And he is sweet on a woman who is not going to be featured in Maxim.

We get a real characterization of a mom who was left by one asshat and has fallen for another asshat. She learns something from her son. This is to be expected. But it happens fast, isn't the most important part of the story. And the results of that learning are left to the viewer.

Really. This was quite good. 4 out of five.