MovieChat Forums > The Way Way Back (2013) Discussion > I agree with Trent on Candyland

I agree with Trent on Candyland

posted 10 years ago by StayPuft550
10 replies | jump to latest

The mom starts the game, and then decides to baby her little Duncan by saying, "Just jump spaces even though the rules say not to." I get that she's supposed to be sympathetic and nice, but it really does completely ruin the point of a board game or card game when people throw the rules out. Trent was right. An already crappy, boring game is made completely boring if it doesn't even have rules and an actual "game" being played.

Now, he did go a little too much over the top, mainly just the way he said it and the part where he moved his piece harshly all over the board, but I still agreed with his point. Then the mom got a little too upset about it, in my opinion, and started crying, slamming her piece on the board. Trent clearly wasn't too upset, he was just making a point in a really brash way.

And although Trent certainly was a d-bag for cheating on his girlfriend and everything, I can't be the only one who thought Duncan seemed like a little snot throughout the movie, too. Always giving people the silent treatment is pretty rude and can seem very disrespectful. Basically, I found none of that family group to be likeable characters, only Rockwell and the water park people.

[–] FreddyVoorheesTheThird 10 years ago

I don't think she was actually crying about the board game itself, lol.

When you play the game of monopoly, you win or you go bankrupt. There is no middle ground.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] pamelals66-1 10 years ago

Trent was actually right about Duncan several times, Trent just acted like a total dick about it instead of being a man. Duncan needed to be pushed to overcome his awkwardness. If Trent hadn't pushed Duncan away from hiding behind his mommy, Duncan wouldn't have met Rockwell, would not have found a place of acceptance, nor would he have become a man at the end.

"Kids in the backseat may cause accidents. Accidents in the backseat may cause kids."

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] TamPalm 10 years ago

Agree about Candyland. I just saw that scene and he wasn't in the wrong during that scene l.

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

[–] Odie33 10 years ago

Trent was correct about the rules and commendable for emphasizing the importance of following them because it makes things equal for all players. However, the immature piece moving demonstration following Pam's disagreement about said importance significantly marred the positive intention.

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[–] Doc80 10 years ago

Agreed. I would also like to point out that what the mom did isn't necessarily a bad thing if only Duncan was allowed to do what he did. From what I remember, there was no indication that she was only allowing Duncan to do that stuff. If everyone plays by those rules then no one is getting special treatment.

[–] jgroub 10 years ago

Yeah, he was a douchebag, all right, but he sure was right in that one Candyland scene. Why play at all if the rules mean nothing?

But it's not that Duncan was a little snot throughout the movie. He was a little snot whenever he was around Trent, precisely the reason why he goes to Water Wizz - to escape this total douchebag. Duncan was right - "Who says that?" (about the 3). Was Duncan a snot when he confronted his mom at that party in front of everyone?

Duncan is the product of divorce, and he isn't handling it well, particularly because of this insufferable prick. At the end, Owen is very right when he tells Duncan's mom that Duncan is a good kid.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] hka-3 10 years ago

Ultimately the problem is that Pam is trying to make up for her own shortcomings by babying Duncan. Deep down she knows Trent is the wrong person for her and her son, but because she's too scared to stand on her own two feet -- and because she doesn't yet realize she and her son can rely on each other for strength -- she attempts to have "family" activities with a man she knows will say or do something negative towards Duncan again like he always does (we see or hear that in scene after scene with Trent). Pam has no business trying to do any "family" activities with this man in the first place.

It's hard enough to be a teenager. Duncan is being belittled on an hourly, daily, weekly and monthly basis by an extremely important person in his mother's life. It's all Duncan can do to get through each day. It's no coincidence that his "snotty" attitude or "silent treatment" doesn't apply at the water park, after he learns that people there are generally better at being respectful.

[–] jonnysound 10 years ago

Wait... That's a real game?