The Way Way Back

    Anyone who knows me well knows, that I love watching movies.  For the past few years I have been blessed with the ability to preview many movies before they are released.  The Way Way Back is one such movie that I have gotten to see, despite the fact that its not playing within a 50 radius of WPB.  It's actual release date was July 5, so other parts of the country have it already and are better off for it.  I watch a lot of movies and I would be honest about how much I watch except that I dont' want you all to assume I don't have an actual life.  That being said I have seen A LOT of movies in the last couple of years and I can honestly say "The Way Way Back" is the best movie I've seen in at least 2 years.
    This movie came from the same producers and such that made the movies Little Miss Sunshine, and Juno.  So one of the reasons I like this movie so much is the same reasons many enjoyed those films...the characters are real!  You can say you know someone just like them or you see yourself in them and the acting is so honest that if you do see yourself in there you don't feel bad about it.  Even the scenario is real, as painful as it is at times you get the feeling that these people really exist somewhere and they are really doing those things.  Not to mention with real characters there is real humor, not made up dialogue with unnecessary cursing or inappropriate banter- what cursing and banter there is feels real and appropriate for the situations.  This movie is exactly what it suggests, funny, endearing, and honest.  I laughed so much!

 I have to admit however that I do have a bias to this film for the very story that it is.  This is a story about a teenage boy living through the breakup of his family and implications of the aftermath.  (ie. he is stuck spending the summer with his mom, her boyfriend, and his daughter in a beach town where he doesn't know anyone.)  He is an awkward, quiet, and shy kid. Working for Youth for Christ I am used to seeing such a teen, and it always breaks my heart.  I want so badly for teens to come out of their shells and see that they are more than the circumstances they are going through in their life.  This movie takes the audience on just such a journey when he (after a handful of awkward meetings) meets and opens up to a water park manager who sees potential in him.

    Because of this story and the realness of the characters coupled with my heart and what I do for a living I saw myself throughout this entire movie.  Maybe its all of the awkward attempts I've experienced trying to connect with a teenager, maybe its seeing potential that not even a parent seem to recognize at times, or maybe its just that the movie is that good and anyone can see themselves in this story.  Either way I highly recommend that if you have a chance that you would go see it.  And if you read this and you are in youth ministry or volunteer in a youth ministry you need to go see it.  I speak with so many adults who don't understand how to "connect" to teenagers and if you struggle with that this movie may help you understand its not as hard as you think it is.