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Created Oct 14, 2013 07:12PM PST • Edited Oct 14, 2013 07:12PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   A great coming of age in the summertime story, The Way Way Back is a mix of well portreyed typical teen subjects: trouble with mom’s boyfriend, trying to get the girl, and growth under the tutelage of a mentor who needs some growth himself. This is a feel good movie that stands up to many of the greats of the genre and will leave you yearning for a trip to the water park.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   For a funny man, Steve Carell does remarkably well as the prick-ish mom-boyfriend

   Toni Collette – shows her acting chops as the actor showing how sufferers act.

   Allison Janney – wow! I’ve haven’t seen this good a job at the boozing divorcee in a long time!

   Liam James, the focus of the show, shows great range as a brooding awkward teen who transforms to an independant and confident young man

   Sam Rockwell is a dry-humor hoot! The whole “slacker as a mentor” schtick isn’t new, but Sam does it like no other.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Great 4.0

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.4

17. Sex Innocent 1.4

18. Violence Gentle 1.4

19. Rudeness Polite 1.4

21. Reality

    Glib 1.6

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.6

23. Biological Glib 1.6

24. Physical Glib 1.6