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Every January, everyone who’s anyone in Hollywood packs up their parkas and heads to Sundance, where the latest in hip, independent films make their debut (and, ideally, get picked up by distributors). At Sundance, you’ll generally find quirky hipster movies, strange experimental films, and gritty dramas—movies like Little Miss Sunshine and Enter the Void and Precious. But, every once in a while, a movie like Win Win will come out of Sundance, too—a sweet and simple little comedy about family and wrestling.
Indie favorite Paul Giamatti stars as Mike Flaherty, a New Jersey lawyer (and volunteer wrestling coach) who’s stressed out about his failing practice. In a desperate attempt to make ends meet, Mike becomes the guardian of his rich elderly client, Leo (Burt Young). But when Leo’s grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer), shows up at his door, looking for a place to live, Mike finds himself in an awkward position.
Mike and his wife, Jackie (Amy Ryan), agree to give the troubled teen a place to stay for a few days—until they can track down his wayward mother. A few days soon turns into a few weeks—but Mike doesn’t really mind, once he discovers that Kyle could actually help him turn his losing wrestling team around.
Though the posters may suggest that Win Win is a movie about wrestling, it’s so much more than that. This easy-going indie comedy is about family. And honesty. And second chances. And, yes, it’s about wrestling, too. Most of all, though, it’s about the characters.
Though Giamatti often plays self-centered, short-tempered, and generally unlikable characters, Mike is the kind of average guy that just about anyone can relate to. He works hard to support his family—but, no matter how hard he works, it’s still not quite enough. Although he makes some terrible decisions in an attempt to solve his family’s problems, you’ll understand why he does what he does—and, despite his obvious flaws, you’ll still like him.
Kyle, too, is far from perfect. He’s quiet and moody (and a little bit bland), and he’s made some mistakes in the past. But he has a great heart—and once he begins to open up, you’ll quickly fall in love with him.
Still, despite noteworthy performances by recognizable, Oscar-nominated stars like Giamatti and Ryan, David Thompson easily steals the show as dorky teen wrestler Stemler. His lovable loser persona alone will make you smile—but he’ll also make you laugh out loud in one of the film’s most outrageously funny moments.
While it has its share of hilarious moments, though, Win Win isn’t the kind of wacky, over-the-top comedy that constantly flings sophomoric gags at the audience, hoping that a few will hit their mark. Instead, it’s a smarter, more relaxed comedy that takes its time in developing the characters. For that reason, it feels a bit slow at times—but the heartwarming story and surprising humor make it all worthwhile.
It may not be particularly edgy or groundbreaking, but Win Win is a lovable Sundance winner—a sweet and funny little movie with plenty of heart.
Blu-ray Review:
The best video releases are those that perfectly capture the tone of the film, highlighting its best parts and reminding you of the things that you most loved about it. That’s definitely the case for the Win Win Blu-ray release, which comes complete with a handful of simple features that are just as warm and lovable and lightly funny as the film itself.
Extras include a couple of short deleted scenes, a trailer, and a music video, along with a handful of short featurettes. Family and A Conversation with Tom McCarthy and Paul Giamatti at Sundance 2011 both discuss the story and the characters, while offering just a few brief thoughts on the cast and production. Tom McCarthy and Joe Tiboni Discuss Win Win, meanwhile, goes more into the film’s inspiration, as the two old friends laugh together while reminiscing about their old wrestling days and discussing Joe’s life as a small town lawyer in an elder law practice.
The most entertaining extra, however, is David Thompson at Sundance 2011, which follows the young actor (who plays Stemler) as he explores this year’s festival. Thompson is just as lovably nerdy as he is in the movie—and his antics make for one entertaining feature. The features are all pretty short—but if you have just a couple of minutes to spare, be sure to make this one your first choice.
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