Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature dramedy triumphs with grace and wisdom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Win Win
What's the Story?
Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is a good guy. A lawyer with a struggling practice, he's intent on supporting his wife (Amy Ryan) and kids, encouraging the forlorn high school wrestlers (they don't win) that he coaches after work, listening to his friend Terry (Bobby Cannavale) ride the emotional roller coaster of his recent divorce, and protecting the interests of his too-few clients. Still, money's been tight, so when a paid opportunity to be the guardian of Leo (Burt Young) -- a retiree in early stages of dementia -- presents itself, Mike steps into the role. He thinks it ought to be fairly simple: He'll take the money but put Leo into a home, where he'll be cared for properly -- never mind that Leo isn't too keen on the idea. Then one day, Leo's teenage grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer), shows up on his grandpa's doorstep, eager to get away from his drug-addicted mother. And he's a champion wrestler, too. Kyle's appearance is a complication that adds to the list of responsibilities weighing heavily on Mike's already weary shoulders.
Is It Any Good?
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's messages. What do you take away from watching?
Are the characters in the movie intended to be role models? What do they learn over the course of the story?
What does the movie say about male friendships? About marriage?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 18, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : August 23, 2011
- Cast : Amy Ryan , Bobby Cannavale , Jeffrey Tambor , Paul Giamatti
- Director : Tom McCarthy
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Fox Searchlight
- Genre : Comedy
- Character Strengths : Integrity
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language
- Last updated : February 16, 2025
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