The Way Way Back

This was written way back in 2007 by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who also co-wrote The Descendants) and was extremely worth the wait.

This is a refreshing coming of age flick about a 14 year old boy named Duncan (Liam James) being dragged to a beach house by his Mom (Toni Collette) and her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell).  It starts out on the way to the beach house when Trent asks Duncan what he thinks he is on a scale of 1 to 10, Duncan replies a 6 and Trent replies back a 3 because he doesn't put himself out there.  Steve Carell is really good as the straight man (almost villainous).  Allison Janney is arguably the most under-rated supporting actresses in the business (see 2007's Hairspray and The Help) and proves it again in this movie as the drunk neighbor Betty.
The movie really becomes great when Duncan goes to work at a water park run by Owen (Sam Rockwell).  Sam takes over the movie as the comic relief and heart of the movie. Maya Rudolph, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash are wonderful as the co-workers at the water park.

I give this two thumbs up pointing to the height of water park slides everywhere and a shout out to the 80's in Duncan's singing of REO Speedwagon.