Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

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Parents' Guide to

Win Win

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Mature dramedy triumphs with grace and wisdom.

Movie R 2011 106 minutes
Win Win Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 12+

If your kid has ridden the bus to middle school they've heard this word.

I have no problem with my 12 year old watching this movie. The violence isn't overly graphic. The language while coarse, isn't used abusively. Nothing blows up, there are no weapons or injury. The adult in this movie makes a bad decision and shows remorse. There is an adult who abuses drugs but there are no scenes with this person under the influence. There are some adult situations and conversations. There are also some funny moments. It is a mature story that can be enjoyed by a mature pre-teen.
age 10+

Nice and interesting

Some famous industry products being used by the characters.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Director Tom McCarthy knows exactly what to say and how to say it; WIN WIN is confidently told, and every moment informs another to come. Mike looks like he's running strong in the first sequence, and we think all is well -- clearly, this is a self-improving man. But soon enough we see him gasping in the dust of surer-footed sprinters. At work, the boiler tolls like a doomsday bell. All is not well. The men in this movie are struggling -- and so are the women. And though their struggles are familiar (the economy, divorce, work boredom), the way they struggle is delightfully unexpected.

And that's not just because Giamatti plays bereft without any cliches and Ryan does an excellent job as a supportive wife without the usual treacle; the rest of the cast is pretty awesome, too. At many junctures, Win Win could have taken a losing (or boring) turn, but it just refuses to. A lesser movie would have had Mike take his scheme further into slapsticky territory, or the troubled Kyle hook up with a classmate who brings formulaic joy to his life, or Terry bed Mike's secretary as a way to fish himself out of his post-separation disquiet. But leave that to the amateurs and unimaginative.

Movie Details

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