Last night, I was invited to a preview screening of The Way Way Back, a film starring Steve Carrell, Sam Rockwell and Toni Collette.

As much as I didn’t quite know what to expect, a cast like this in a touted ‘arthouse’ flick can only mean good things and I was not unimpressed.

The story is that of Duncan, a 14 year old boy holidaying for the summer with his mother (Collette), Mum’s boyfriend (Carrell) and his daughter. The dynamics of this disfunctional family unit are played out as Duncan, a shy and quiet boy, finally finds his voice with the help of local Water Park Manager Owen (Rockwell).

The film is poignant, funny and charming, with moments that will make you laugh, and others that will make you cringe.

But ultimately, I really enjoyed it. It’s been quite some time since I saw a film that wasn’t a ‘blockbuster’ that you actually felt gave you something to think about for 96 minutes, but if you are going to spend $18 on a flick and you want it to make you smile, this one is a winner.