"Cut your own path."The Way Way Back is an absolute treat. Directed and written by the writers of The Descendants - compared to which this film is considerably better - this Summer-by-the-sea coming-of-age tale offers little that is new but it is impeccably written, superbly played by an amazing ensemble and quite simply makes you want to applaud at the end. As fourteen-year-old Duncan, Liam James is wonderfully emotionally sincere, awkward, introverted and at times heartbreaking as he finds himself on the fringes of a broken marriage (his mother showing another pin-sharp performance by Toni Collette, whose new partner is given a terrifically heartless reading by Steve Carell) and the adult world that he cannot yet access. Salvation comes in the form of a secret job at a local park and his developing friendship with the awesome Sam Rockwell's park attendant, whose whip-smart delivery and joyful character is immensely enjoyable. Even subsidiary characters are written precisely and played beautifully, such as Allison Janney as their drink-sozzled neighbour who instantly lifts the film from her very first appearance and Maya Rudolph as Rockwell's possible love-interest. Metaphors are not laboured, direction and cinematography are confident and effective and the simple score works well. The Way Way Back is a delightful movie, and it is perfectly pitched for late Summer.
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