The Way, Way Back

Duncan is a shy, quiet, awkward 14-year-old boy who has yet to find his niche. When his mother Pam forces him to go on a family vacation with her controlling boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell), Duncan finds himself stuck. He has a hard time fitting in with the kids in the small Cape Cod town they travel to. In addition, Duncan is constantly harassed by Trent. He emotionally abuses him on a daily basis and his mother does nothing to stop him. Finally, on another lonely morning, Duncan discovers a bike and decides to go on a long ride. He eventually finds a water park and slyly enters through the staff gate. He runs into a familiar face, Owen, who invites him in and offers him a job at the Water Wizz water park. Owen treats Duncan like a son throughout the film.  Eventually Duncan becomes comfortable in his skin with the help of the Water Wizz staff. With his new found confidence, Duncan finally attacks the problems in his life. He confronts Trent's obnoxious menacing behavior despite the potential consequences. Duncan is reborn.  

The most surprising and intriguing aspect of this film is Steve Carell's performance. We know Carell from The Office, Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Get Smart, Dinner for Schmucks, and many other productions. Carell is a master of comedy. He has perfected every comedic technique throughout his many career opportunities. In each film or show he has successfully brought viewers to tears of laughter without hesitation. Although Carell is known for his brilliance in comedy, his performance in The Way, Way Back is far from funny. He plays a controlling, intimidating, impolite, malevolent character who attempts to tear a family apart. This performance proves how incredibly diverse Carell's acting abilities are. I would recommend The Way, Way Back to anyone who enjoys Steve Carrell. Although this film is far from a traditional comedy, any fan would genuinely appreciate Carell's performance. An actor's talent is defined by how diverse he or she can be throughout a myriad of performances. Steve Carell is an example of a truly talented actor. 

50/50

What would you do if you had a 50% chance of surviving an illness? Would you change your way of living? Would you make impulsive decisions? Would you give up? Adam Learner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a vigilant 27-year-old journalist that strains to live a clean lifestyle. He exercises often, avoids alcohol, and never smokes in order to be as healthy as possible. In addition, he refuses to drive a car because of the potential threat of getting into an accident. Although Adam does everything in his power to stay safe, he is diagnosed with a rare cancer that gives him only a 50% chance of living. His life is slowly torn apart because of his illness. His girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) becomes distant, his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) does not know how to handle the situation, and his therapist (Anna Kendrick) is inexperienced. As he deals with chemo and constant stress, Adam’s initial morals and lifestyle are tested. He is forced to make vital decisions that will change his life forever.

On the surface this film seems to be overwhelmingly depressing with no possible outlet. Although cancer is no joke, this film uses humor to tell Adams's story. As Seth Rogen’s character attempts to help  Learner, he makes mistakes, says the wrong things, and provides the audience with some comic relief. For instance, Kyle makes Adam use his cancer as a mechanism to get girls. It is done in such a playful harmless way that the audience immediately falls in love with the two friends. The script is well thought out and forces viewers to experience a constant roller coaster of emotions. In addition, Joseph Gordon-Levitt never fails to impress. His performance is absolutely mesmerizing. I would call this film a truly brilliant comedic drama.