Lower Your Expectations

Earlier this evening our family headed to the Carmike Cinemas to catch a flick since both of our kids happen to be staying with us (a rarity). Tomorrow we move our daughter back to school. She just realized she will be a junior in college (actually a second-semester junior), so the future angst has kicked in. Our son was called about a job interview in Ohio on Tuesday, so it seemed like tonight was our last chance to catch a movie together.

Admittedly, at the end of her first full week of teaching, my wife was more keen on the popcorn than my choice of movie. I had glanced at a review, but only knew Rob Corddry was in the picture, an actor whose name I knew but I couldn't recall why. I also saw Maya Rudolph's name, so off we went.

The film, The Way, Way Back, was a delight. I had no idea who shared top billing in the film. Allison Janney is terrific, channeling her inner Kathie Lee Gifford. Steve Carrell plays against type. Annasophia Robb is understated (for once). Toni Collette (The United States of Tara) shows the vulnerability and codependency of failed relationships. The main character, a gawky fourteen-year-old boy named Duncan (Liam James, who just turned 17), undergoes a transformation--but one still fraught with nuance. He doesn't become an entirely different personality, as in many a teen movie.  He is inherently believable. The greatest cameo is by the actor Jim Rash (the obnoxious dean on Community) as a loser named Lewis who mans the Lost and Found booth. He is quirky without being over the top (for once).

The outstanding performance is by Sam Rockwell as Owen, a washed-up entrepreneur running the kind of 1980s-era trashy water park that kids hang out at in places I have grown up. His banter is witty. In many ways, he transforms scenes into screwball comedy, delivering bits at breakneck speed. We laughed out loud at him several times. His character is endearing as well. In many ways, he was a male Lorelei Gilmore in this role.

O.K., now that I have talked up the film, you won't go into the movie with zero expectations as I did, but I hope you'll still see it. The overall vibe is affirming and honest. And, surprisingly, we all left smiling. As my previous posts have proven, it is rare for us to find a movie we all can enjoy. Maybe we should lower our expectations more often.