Disheartened attorney Mike Flaherty (Giamatti), who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach, stumbles across a star athlete through some questionable business dealings while trying to support his family. Just as it looks like he will get a double payday, the boy's mother shows up fresh from rehab and flat broke, threatening to derail everything.
The result is a sharply observed film that doesn’t draw its characters as black-and-white cutouts.
Some accomplished turns, and the mood of downbeat quirkiness has its appeal. Plot contrivances scupper it though, and given McCarthy’s track record it’s a letdown.
Funny, agreeable and thoroughly enjoyable, if a little bit too neat and fortuitous in sorting out its entangled strands.
Funny, compassionate and authentic. In a bombastic blockbuster season, such quiet pleasures are to be savoured.
Frankly, it's a crying shame that such a bighearted movie should receive a 15 rating for a few scenes of swearing (fully justified within the context), but that's just about the only downside to this marvellous picture.
A winner, with a star making performance from Eminem-lookalike Shaffer.
Rings much truer than most.
Honest, insightful, warm and witty. A proper delight.
The message seems to be: "bad shit happens to other people, but we can learn from that". That's not win-win, it's lose-win.
McCarthy knows his characters and likes them, and somehow he ensures that we feel the same way. I'd say that's a win-win.
A disappointing drama.
The characters are sympathetic and it's very nicely performed.
Lots of wit, warmth, sharp timing and wonderful characters.
Peppered with nicely observed, heartfelt moments that underscore the value of striving to be a good person, Win Win manages that rare feat of being good comfort viewing without feeling too comfortable itself.
This is one of those beautifully observed and absorbing comedies, about nothing and everything, which make American independent cinema invaluable.
Win Win remains a deft, warm, serious and often very funny film.
General release. Check local listings for show times.