MovieChat Forums > The Way Way Back (2013) Discussion > sexist and overrated and just not funny,...

sexist and overrated and just not funny, period

posted 11 years ago by calvintoronto
47 replies | jump to latest

Haven't we seen this all before? A kid who is withdrawn because of family problems meets a few people who take inexplicable interest in him, with the result that he comes out of his shell.

First, it's the guy at the water park, who appears to make the sullen kid his project. (I would have given up on the kid after the first non-conversation.) Then, the cute next-door neighbour, no doubt meant to contrast the superficiality of her friends, presumably sees a wounded fellow traveler, and she proves to be right, because, hey, we all want to be understood, right?

The worst part of it all occurs at the waterslide. The kid is instructed on how to hold people up (mostly women) so that they can be oogled. And the scene goes on. And on. And on. And on. And uncomfortably on. When the kid begins to come out of his shell, he does the same thing. Hey! Way to go, older guys! Give the kid a Life Lesson by showing him that women are meant to be objectified! Yeah! Make the world a better place! Right on!

I know that protagonists don't have to be perfect or likeable. But this was one summer vacation I sure wouldn't want to be on, what with that sourpuss around.

Alison Janney was very good, as usual. But so good that it was like she walked in from another, more interesting, more funny movie.

[–] silverwolf_316 11 years ago

"I would have given up on the kid after the first non-conversation."

and that's a very good reason why you shouldn't be allowed anywhere near anybody.

By Grabthar's Hammer...what a savings.

[–] VivienCastro 11 years ago

The kid was nice, sweet, and unhappy. It brings out protective instinct in people.

It's not sexist, it is just bonding. I can see women and girls doing exactly the same, checking out hot guys there and commenting on them. It's really not a big deal - just because you can look at people in a sexual way doesn't mean you are convinced they are objects. There is simply no other dimension to your relationship with someone you are only looking at, and you are not harming them by finding them hot.

[–] MTulliver 10 years ago

Yeah, it kind of is a big deal when someone is not just looking, but FORCING someone to be on display for them unknowingly.
Please go look up the definition of objectification. It's clear you don't actually know what it is.
I didn't even have too much of an issue with that scene when I watched the movie. Kind of grossed me out, but not horribly. I'm having second thoughts now just based on the rationalizing comments on this board.

[–] Not_Afraid_of_snakes_or_spiders 11 years ago

Was it just me, or did Steve Carell seem like he just didn't give a sh*t about his part? I'm not talking about the character of Trent. I mean Steve himself. He looked like he didn't even want to be there throughout the whole movie.

"There is no reason to bring every cotton pickin book you own into this dadburn gym!"-Fall 1987

[–] hka-3 11 years ago

Was it just me, or did Steve Carell seem like he just didn't give a sh*t about his part? I'm not talking about the character of Trent. I mean Steve himself. He looked like he didn't even want to be there throughout the whole movie.

You could be right. I didn't notice since Trent was a party pooper. I didn't want Trent to be there.

I must admit, Trent is an interesting character. He may be good at his profession, but he bumbles his way through his personal life. He conveniently says something like, "Let's forget about last night; start with a clean slate," as if it absolves him from taking full responsibility for his actions. He reminds me of a couple of people I've known.

[–] compact_disc_rack 11 years ago

Agreed.

The mentioned scenes were sexist and most of the people who deny it in this thread are very obviously dumb antiintellectuals.

There are films about sex-obsessed boys who will do nothing but look at women or pictures of women, sexualise them and often masturbate, yet no one calls them sexist for that alone. You ask yourself why.

Because it's a scripted and directed scene, not "nature", that's why.It's about HOW, not WHAT.

As for the rest, I thought it was pretty good the first 20 minutes or so. In the end it was just another predictable Hollywood film trying to sell itself as artistic. I've seen worse, but am disappointed.

[–] TamPalm 11 years ago

I generally try to be open-minded to various perspectives but I honestly don't see how anyone can watch this film and find it "unfunny" or "boring." I just don't see how that's possible. I actually find myself growing offended that someone could turn this powerful coming-of-age film into something negative. I really think finding something negative about this film is more a reflection on the viewer than the film. But then I guess there are also people who don't like puppies and ice cream either. I feel sorry for them.

"If it doesn't make sense, it's not true." -- Judge Judy

[–] MrJJay 10 years ago

That scene was extremely cheap and poor written.
One of many reasons why this movie was not good.

[–] lazarillo 10 years ago

This movie was originally set in the 80's before all the PC *beep* that we still have to listen to today.

Men looking at women is "sexist"? I guess woman must be contributing to this "sexism" by their failure to always wear full-length burkas that show only their eyes. Of course, you could always move to some wonderfully "non-sexist" country like Saudi Arabia.

It's incredibly obvious though that a lot of females LIKE to be looked at, and for those that REALLY don't like it, the burka is always an option. I think what's sexist though is to expect half the population to be different than they are.

As for this scene, if the genders were reversed or the characters were gay and doing that to a hot-looking male, would it be offensive? Some women "objectify" men and there's no doubt that gay men "objectify" each other. Part of being a human being is being an object. If you want be disembodied spirit, you can always go kill yourself. This is a very stupid thing to condemn a whole movie over.

[–] MTulliver 10 years ago

PC? It's called being respectful of other people. You should try it sometime.

No one said looking at women is sexist. Did you even watch the scenes in question? LEERING at someone and making that person stand there to be the object of your leering (without being aware of it, I might add)? That's called objectification and yes, it is sexist. If these GIRLS (girls, not even women) really actually wanted to be leered at, why did the guys have to trick them into standing there?

It's not sexist to expect someone to be able to control himself.

I have no idea what you're on about with the gender reversal thing...or why mention gay guys?

[–] Rena_Mahone 10 years ago

I agree, except for the "sexist" part.
Truly a corny, trite, cliché, generic, predictable, unfunny, boring, overrated film.

🐺 Boycott movies that involve real animal violence (& their directors) 🐾

[–] SmokeyTheGreat 10 years ago

What's sexist about the slide scene? The girl was very attractive. She was in a skimpy bikini which in reality means she's confident in her looks and she knows she had a nice body and enjoys showing it off.

If Pop N Lock and everyone else had attempted to tear her top off or look up her skirt I'd see the issue. But to me, as a guy, it was innocent fun based on a guy's natural instincts which is to look at a beautiful female.

I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least its an ethos.

[–] calvintoronto 10 years ago

People keep (willfully?) missing the point. Look at women all you want; nothing wrong with that. In the film, it is the WAY that looking takes place. in that one scene in particular. If it had merely been that the kid was looking at women, no problem. But that's not what happens. The kid is taught how to "trick" women using his position of power to stop these women for no other reason other than to blatantly ogle them. Men in a position of power, using that power to deeply objectify women.... Gee, where have we seen that before? It's rank and tiresome.