Jan Wahl Movie Review: 'The Way, Way Back'

(KCBS) – KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl reviews "The Way, Way Back," (Dir. Nat Faxon), a coming of age movie told from the point of view of an introverted, confused teen.

KCBS Entertainment Reporter Jan Wahl:

 
THE WAY, WAY BACK (PG-13)

It might be a coming of age story, with a Little Miss Sunshine type of quirkiness and a Graduate fish out of water. OK. not as classic as those two, but The Way, Way Back is a coming of age movie that works.

It's told from the point of view of the introverted, confused 14 year old Duncan. He's on a summer vacation with his mother and her overbearing boyfriend. Duncan's world changes at a water park. The characters we meet are real, the humor organic, we feel there's something at stake here.

Steve Carell plays it dark and perfect, Daly City's own Sam Rockwell lightens us up, wisdom behind the laughs.

Three & 1/2 hats.

AUGUSTINE (NOT RATED)

This is a dark, powerful drama, based on a disturbing true story. We meet a pioneering neurologist, a mentor to Freud. It's Belle Epoque Paris, and a kitchen maid is about to become the doctor's star patient.

We all see romantic visuals of this time in Paris (Midnight in Paris, Moulin Rouge) but this film will make any woman glad not to have lived at this time. We follow Augustine to an all female psychiatric hospital and see how the doctor uses this sick woman to move forward his own opinions and career. In French with English subtitles.

Two hats.

 
Movies To See Right Now: Monsters University, The Heat, Unfinished Song & The Bling Ring

Home Viewing/DVD: Venus and Serena, Quartet, Chasing Mavericks, 56 Up

 
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

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• Allison Janney