ListNook

FourEightNineOneOne Mar 31, 2026 +258

This was a sadly overlooked movie. It's a really good teen summer coming of age comedy/drama

258

Static-Stair-58 Mar 31, 2026 +107

Steve Carell played such an unlikeable character that it actually made me hate the real person for a second. He was fantastic

107

mochafiend Mar 31, 2026 +65

In a realistic way too... I feel like we don't see it like this. The bad guy in movies can be so over the top but I felt like I've met this a****** before, you know?

65

Mst3Kgf Mar 31, 2026 +31

Rash and Faxon said they deliberately cast Carrell because they needed someone who was naturally likable enough to make the character not a one-dimensional a******. He genuinely thinks he's doing the right thing (probably because HIS dad did the same to him). Even his "I think you're a three" line is meant to encourage Duncan to "get his score up."

31

SteveBorden Apr 1, 2026 +10

I believe the start of the movie where he tells the kid he thinks he’s a 3/10 is something that actually happened to Jim Rash as a kid and don’t you just want to punch whoever said that in the face?

10

cire1184 Apr 1, 2026 +6

He really played it well. Really allowed Sam Rockwell's character look great.

6

kristin137 Apr 1, 2026 +1

I can never unsee it in him even now

1

thenatural134 Apr 1, 2026

He's a very talented actor and this movie was great but I always felt like his role was a bit of a miscast.

0

ChucksnTaylor Mar 31, 2026 +19

I thought it was great, surprisingly refreshing and Sam Rockwell absolutely KILLS it.

19

Seagoon_Memoirs Apr 1, 2026 +6

he kills it in everything he does

6

PeneItaliano Mar 31, 2026 +39

Agreed. A favorite of mine I revisit every summer. I took the person I was seeing at the time to go see this one late at night one night while it was in theaters. A small theater. I loved the movie I wanted to watch it again lol. This is also my favorite performance from Sam Rockwell. He is absolutely lovely in this.

39

Careless_Wash9126 Apr 1, 2026 +3

This is my feel-good movie, I have no idea how many times I've watched it at this point. I *was* Duncan as a teen.

3

Mst3Kgf Mar 31, 2026 +6

He's channeling Bill Murray in "Meatballs" and it's delightful.

6

kowal89 Mar 31, 2026 +14

Yup it's amazing

14

RGJ587 Mar 31, 2026 +40

Sam Rockwell is a treasure, and tbh this is my favorite role of his. He is just so damn wholesome with Pop'n'Lock.

40

kowal89 Mar 31, 2026 +9

Exactly. He's kind of actor for me that if he js in the movie, I'm watching. Worked out great for me!

9

RewindYourMind Apr 1, 2026 +7

He’s great in the film, but the moment where he steps up to Carrell and says, “I’m a friend of *the three.*” ::chefs kiss::

7

Noonecanhearmescream Apr 1, 2026 +5

Widely overlooked film. I loved it. Sam Rockwell was snubbed by the Academy. He really deserved an Oscar for supporting actor. Great movie overall. It’s good on the rewatches too.

5

mochafiend Mar 31, 2026 +6

I love this movie so much. It was an instant classic to me, specifically of this genre. Does not get enough love, not even close.

6

calidownunder Apr 1, 2026 +2

Yeah came here to say this. I watched this super hungover and it was unexpectedly engaging and somehow comforting. Really enjoyed it

2

GetrIndia Mar 31, 2026 +67

Love Allison Janney so much.

67

adamhanson Apr 1, 2026 +14

Finally someone talking about the start of this clip. She was FANTASTIC.

14

worcestr Mar 31, 2026 +118

THE Jim Rash?? Jesus Wept!!

118

scbundy Mar 31, 2026 +36

Dean!

36

wolfcolalover Mar 31, 2026 +23

Barack Obama is scared of him.

23

scbundy Apr 1, 2026 +11

Cuz he spits truth for free!

11

PeneItaliano Mar 31, 2026 +22

He also appears in the movie and is funny.

22

Doctahflave Mar 31, 2026 +9

So does the other director, Nat Faxon

9

redrumham707 Mar 31, 2026 +6

Nat played The Swede on Our Flag Means Death! He’s also in Loot, on Apple+. Love that guy. This film is really sweet and endearing.

6

european_dimes Apr 1, 2026 +2

He's great in Friends From College and has a hilarious turn in one episode of Party Down. The Conners did not properly utilize his talent however.

2

Mst3Kgf Mar 31, 2026 +1

He'll be there in the booth no one visits.

1

endav Mar 31, 2026 +14

He and Nat Faxon also wrote The Descendents and Downhill!

14

NAINOA- Apr 1, 2026 +7

He won the Oscar for it!

7

OzTheMalefic Apr 1, 2026 +15

https://i.redd.it/xbnnomhjrhsg1.gif

15

FourEightNineOneOne Mar 31, 2026 +10

He wrote the movie based on his own experience as a teen.

10

AF2005 Mar 31, 2026 +34

This movie always kind of reminded me of Meatballs, with Sam Rockwell playing the Bill Murray character. The cool older mentor who takes the introverted kid under his wing for the summer and gets him to loosen up. It was a very good movie, and Steve Carrell played a great jerk dad.

34

Mst3Kgf Mar 31, 2026 +13

You could also easily switch Rockwell and Carrell in those roles and it'd work just as well too.

13

PastaPinata Apr 1, 2026 +3

Well guess who is in their next project : [https://www.imdb.com/fr/title/tt2281585/](https://www.imdb.com/fr/title/tt2281585/)

3

mariojlanza Apr 1, 2026 +3

The screenwriters literally used Meatballs as their template when they were writing the script, so that's a perfect comparison. They talk about it on the DVD interviews.

3

heybobson Apr 1, 2026 -1

Unfortunately that’s my criticism of this movie. Felt like just of whole bunch of other movies about coming of age summer tale but nothing really felt original here. All the beats you see coming, so it’s just felt a bit boring overall. Not bad, but pretty forgettable.

-1

WitchBrew4u Apr 1, 2026 +1

Huh? Name another movie that’s just like it, please.

1

heybobson Apr 1, 2026 +2

Meatballs, Adventureland, American Graffiti, The Sandlot, Now & Then, Almost Famous, Dirty Dancing, Dazed & Confused. All these explore the same elements: kid coming of age during summer, often set away from home, usually has a d*** parent, befriends some cool older mentor figure. I know you’ll say those aren’t exactly just like this! But thats my point. The movie felt like a blender of all these other flicks I’ve seen.

2

WitchBrew4u Apr 1, 2026

Those are in the same genre but they are absolutely not the same story. It’s fine that you don’t care for it. But it’s so very well done in terms of execution for what it is. And a storyline is not the only thing that makes something novel. The expression of that story also helps make it novel—through the specific characters, dialogue, etc. That’s why you can have 1000 different cinderella stories, but each is unique in its own way.

0

heybobson Apr 1, 2026 +2

That’s why I said it’s not a bad movie. It’s just forgettable to me. I’m also holding Rash & Faxon to a much higher standard here since this is their first project after winning the Academy Award for The Descendants. So i was disappointed in that regard. And I found their directing to be a little green. The performances were good, but in terms of how scenes were shot and story was communicated, it just seemed pretty basic.

2

rocket-lawn-chair Mar 31, 2026 +30

Is that the kid from Psych?

30

pic2022 Mar 31, 2026 +10

Yep! You heard about Pluto?

10

Zander_gl Mar 31, 2026 +2

I've heard it both ways

2

european_dimes Apr 1, 2026 +3

Liam James

3

PrometheusAborted Mar 31, 2026 +22

This movie rocks. I rewatched it not too long ago. Funny, touching, great cast, well written. Can’t really ask for much more.

22

TrueNamekianFusion Mar 31, 2026 +41

It doesn't get said alot. But Steve Carell is one handsome dude fr.

41

PeneItaliano Mar 31, 2026 +11

He was here for sure

11

Mst3Kgf Mar 31, 2026 +6

Carrell is like Clooney in that going grey has definitely upped his looks.

6

aSpookyScarySkeleton Apr 1, 2026 +5

Legit was like woooaah never seen him look this good before. Bro is a real stud here.

5

PeneItaliano Apr 1, 2026 +1

This is the best he ever looked

1

PleasantThoughts Mar 31, 2026 +11

I had a stepmom that acted exactly like Steve Carrell's character in this movie growing up that thankfully my dad eventually broke up with. It's a fantastic movie and he's great in it but I can never watch it again it hit too close to home

11

BadstoneMusic Apr 1, 2026 +10

Loved this flick - Rockwell played it up nicely

10

spikefletcher Mar 31, 2026 +20

I have crushes on both moms here

20

iHateDanny Mar 31, 2026 +7

A man of taste and culture.

7

PrayForMojo78 Mar 31, 2026 +10

"Carry a laser down the road that I must travel" I love this movie so much

10

pic2022 Mar 31, 2026 +6

One of my favorite movies. It's so heartwarming.

6

sorin_kryo Mar 31, 2026 +6

Steve Carrell was such d*** in this movie great proformance honestly. Just absolutely wonderful film.

6

RoscoeSantangelo Apr 1, 2026 +5

One of Carrell's best roles in how he manages to truly make you despise him and the epitome of everything to love about Sam Rockwell

5

TannerNewcomb Apr 1, 2026 +5

This is my favorite movie of all time

5

BigJake134 Mar 31, 2026 +3

I love this movie more than anything.

3

en1mal Apr 1, 2026 +5

I just adore Allison Janney. If someone here wants to get sober, "just" binge the tv show "Mom" ... it hits unexpectedly hard.

5

freshtrax Mar 31, 2026 +6

If my kids ever want to piss me off, they will say I'm being like Steve Carell in The Way Way Back.

6

Thebaldsasquatch Mar 31, 2026 +5

This movie is great and Sam Rockwell fuckin KILLS IT. Every scene at the water park is hysterical.

5

CoderDevo Mar 31, 2026 +2

I didn't know Robby Benson was acting again.

2

stevep3478 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Such a solid and very good and yet underrated movie.

2

guitarmike2 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Such a good movie. A great pick-me-up when I’m down.

2

HumarockGuy Apr 1, 2026 +2

Filmed in Marshfield, MA.

2

ragnarrolandson Apr 1, 2026 +2

Such a great movie

2

Hellguin Apr 1, 2026 +2

I saw this movie while living in Wareham (just 20 minutes from Onset) my biggest gripe with the movie was the gas station they go to is god damn Full Service. But I grew up in that area and have many good memories at Water Wizz

2

Seagoon_Memoirs Apr 1, 2026 +2

Good movie. 👍

2

2reeEyedG Apr 1, 2026 +2

I loved this and it was based on my local beach spot

2

cire1184 Apr 1, 2026 +2

I love Allison Janney. She's hilarious.

2

majesticalexis Apr 1, 2026 +2

How have I never heard of this? I’m gonna have to find it.

2

tamaytotomahto Apr 1, 2026 +2

10/10 feel good Sunday film (even with the ups and downs). I love introducing people to it.

2

Pseudonym50 Mar 31, 2026 +1

Fat Nixon

1

CDavis10717 Apr 1, 2026 +1

I did not see this but now I want to!

1

RefinedBean Apr 1, 2026 +1

Crazy how there's a through-line of a lot of this cast to Loot on Apple TV, some of those people really like working together!

1

Pecos-Thrill Mar 31, 2026 -11

I had to turn this off after 20 minutes because every character had the exact same cool laid back personality

-11

OpinionConsistent336 Mar 31, 2026 +19

A major aspect of the movie is the main character kid observing all the adults putting on a “cool laid back” persona to indulge in their various vices & ignore their responsibilities & shortcomings while on vacation in this beach town. It’s fake, they’re fake, and he hates it. It’s a coming of age story about a kid realizing the adults around him suck and figuring out who he is and what he values in contrast.

19

Particular-Lake-5238 Mar 31, 2026 +11

Then you missed the main character as well as Steve Carell.

11

Pecos-Thrill Mar 31, 2026 -4

I meant besides the main character, as they’re the outsider of the story. Don’t remember Steve Carrell much. Oh well.

-4

abandoned_rain Apr 1, 2026 -8

God I hate this movie so much, of course listnook loves it

-8

The Way Way Back (2013)- The neighbor scene - Directed by Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

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