Review of Win Win (2011) by Andrea K — 08 Feb 2014

This film is one of those films that is a hidden gem in the deep sea of American comedies. The film stars Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) an attorney and part-time high school wrestling coach, it is immediately obvious that Mike's team is substandard and we soon find out they have never won a match.

After finding the perfect loophole in which to profit in his lively hood as an attorney, Mike's plans are impeded when his clients grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer) shows up looking for a place to stay.

It turns out however that Kyle is a talented wrestler, with an impressive competitive record in Ohio, a state known to produce high quality wrestlers. Mike initially takes full advantage of this, however soon, things get complicated.

The story here may seem a little to low-key for mainstream audiences and that may be true, however Win Win's humor can be enjoyed by anyone. The film made me chuckle on several instances, most notable of which were scenes that showcased Kyle's social awkwardness and athletic dedication.

In fact director Tom McCarthy finds his stride in the relationships found throughout the film, chief among these is the relationship between Mike and Kyle. Both characters are well acted and seem like real people most of the time.

It was always entertaining to see the two together and sometimes the film actually manages to form scenes that are touching, without dragging down the humor of the film. Being a sport orientated comedy I would have liked to see a little bit more Wrestling and the supporting cast that would accompany this, i.

E. the misfits that make up Mike's crappy team, however the film manages to overcome this slight nitpick. The film at hand here is an involving tale, with a realistic take on both the sport of high school wrestling and people, combine this with a few laughs along the way and the film managed to wrestle it's way into a select group of good, low-key American comedies.

A good watch from start to finish, it's a win win.