The Way, Way Back

You know, it is a hard hard slog logging in to Lotus Notes from Outlook.  And I'm a lazy man.  

So when I take the trouble to move my mouse WAAAAAAY over from one side of a NAL to the other and enter my password (K3NNYLOGGINS) you know it must either be a really really good film or a steaming pile of Justin Bieber.

But as it turns out I have a GREAT film to tell you about.  It is "The Way, Way Back" a coming of age tale about a 14 year old lad named Duncan who is dragged off on summer holidays with his mum (Toni "Muriel" Collette) and her obnoxious boyfriend played by Steve Carrell.  

And I really should give Steve Carrell big-ups here for playing an absolute @RSE.  Oooh, you'll hate him in this film.  Hate him, you will.  Arrrrrrr!! 

Like that.  

His patronising attempts at being a well-meaning but firm "dad" come off as just mean-spirited and cruel to a kid whose presence he clearly resents.  Awkward and dorky and with a taste for 80's soft-rock power ballads, poor Duncan is humiliated and uncomfortable all the time and spends as much time as he can on his own, rocking out to REO Speedwagon on his ipod.

But if I'm making the film sound depressing, that is only because I have not yet mentioned Sam Rockwell who is the HERO of the film.  He runs "Water Wizz" theme park - a slightly cr*ppy old place where Duncan finds himself.  

He offers Duncan a job and soon his infectious sense of humour and self-confidence communicate themselves to Duncan who blossoms under Sam's care.  And if I haven't put this across very well let me emphasise that Sam is bloody hysterical in the role.  Such as when one of the water-slides gets blocked and Sam needs a volunteer to unblock it - 

SAM:  Okay, I'm looking for a volunteer.  I need a hero.  I'm holding out for a hero til the end of the night.  He's got to be strong and he's got to be fast.  Oh yeah, and he's got to be fresh from the fight.  Oh come on.  Not one of you?  "Footloose"?  Not even the remake?

If you are not from the 80's and therefore stupid.  It is possible you won't find that as hysterically funny as I do.  Your loss.

So anyway, a film that left me wanting to actually APPLAUD.  I loved it.  A triumph.  Etc.  I'm going back to Outlook now.  This has all been quite exhausting.

I can't fight this feeling anymore.... I've forgotten what I started fighting fooooorrrrrrr...