My Review of "The Way Back"

The Way Back is one of the last movies that came out in theaters before the huge pandemic hit the world back in March. I remember feeling so privileged to think that this movie wasn't worth going to the theater to watch and now I can't go to theaters to watch any movies. It goes to show you how you can't take things for granted and appreciate all the opportunities that we have in life. Even something as small as going to the theater.

This movie starts off pretty dark. We get introduced to the main character Jack. He's a construction worker that seems to have a drinking problem. It's a pretty excessive drinking problem because the guy even drinks beer while taking a shower. I honestly don't know how the guy is alive he's drinking while he's driving and basically a high functioning alcoholic.

We learn about his relationship with his immediate family and as the movie progresses we start to recognize why he's driven to drinking. It's really quite hard to see him barreling down as the alcohol takes him to some pretty messed up places in his life.

The movie changes up when the father of his old religious school asks him to coach the boys basketball team. Back in the day when he went to the school he was actually a star player. Things looked really bright for him and all of a sudden he stopped. Basketball has really gone downhill for the school ever since he had left high school. Enrollment for players has dwindled and no one can coach this struggling team.

Reluctantly Jack agrees to coach the team as it was his first love in his life. From this point on it almost seems like the run of the mills Mighty Ducks kind of movie where he's like Gordon Bombay and the kids are the Mighty Ducks. In a way it kind of follows the same formula as the mighty ducks but it goes into a different direction.

Usual sports movies would focus on the kids development and changes. This movie does that but it focuses more on Jack's character. There's more of an emphasis of how this job has changed his perspective on his situation and how he's treated everyone in his life. The guy is kind of a retched person but you know deep down he is a person that needs to be saved.

Ultimately this movie is basically a look at different types of father/son relationships all around us. Everyone has difficulties in dealing with expectations and their personal relationships.

There are a ton of changes with all of the characters in this movie however the changes aren't gradual and the pacing of the movie kind of suffers because of this. What can you do though? It's a movie so it has to fit into a certain runtime so I understand.

Some of the scenarios that Jack gets into are pretty crazy especially close to the end of the movie. Despite the absurdity of the situations he's in, there seems to be a truthfulness to these scenes. I can actually picture these situations playing out in real life with an actual alcoholic and they are very cringe worthy. The big scene at the end definitely had me wincing and closing my eyes because it just felt too real and close to home for me.

Overall, I still enjoyed this movie even though it didn't work out like a typical sports movie. It felt genuine and oddly authentic despite the pacing issues of some of the character's eureka moments throughout the movie. I have to give this movie a 7.5 out of 10. It's better than you think it is and is worth at least a viewing if it peaks your interest.