HD Trailer

Watch It

On DVD: Now | On Blu-ray: Now

Win Win Review

Release Date: Mar 18, 2011
Rated: language
Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.
Genres: Art House/Foreign, Comedy, Drama
Director:Tom McCarthy
Cast:Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Melanie Lynskey. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

3.0

Dave White Profile <h3>Dave White</h3> <p><strong>Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex</strong></p> <br /> <p>Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/dave-white">Read full profile</a></p>

One "win" is plenty. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

4.0

75

out of 100

Metascore^®
Generally favorable reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
80

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter
Think "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Little Miss Sunshine." In many ways, Win Win fits that mold, which should make it McCarthy's most broadly appealing movie to date.

Read Full Review
83

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
Win Win, it turns out, isn't a tale of facile victory. It's a movie about how loss makes everyone do things they'll both defend and regret.

Read Full Review

88

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
The story feels believable as a witty chronicle of human behavior, in contrast with the self-consciously satirical style of some indie films and the far-fetched heroics of big studio fare.

Read Full Review
See all Win Win reviews at Metacritic.com

View MoreView Less

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 16+

Mature dramedy triumphs with grace and wisdom.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this excellent indie dramedy offers lots of wisdom, examining characters caught at the crossroads of mid-life through clear lenses that are refreshingly unburdened by clichés. Yes, there’s plenty of swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.) and some mature themes -- including a mother's drug addiction, which sends her teenage boy adrift, hungering for structure and safety. But there are also plenty of stand-up characters who, despite their flaws, make you believe in a world of hope and optimism.

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?

The good stuff

Messages: The movie's main message is that even though the best intentioned among us can make bad decisions, those decisions can be undone by good intentions and -- better yet -- honest follow-through. Also, inspiration comes from surprising sources.
Role models: Kyle may be rough around the edges, but he’s principled and seeking improvement. Mike’s wise because of his years, though not wise enough to avoid making poor choices. But he’s a stand-up guy who cleans up his own mess. Mike’s wife knows how to support those she loves without losing herself.

What to watch for

Violence: A teenage boy shoves another; he also yells at an adult. Adults yell and argue.
Sex: Some sexual innuendo.
Language: Language includes several uses of "f--k," plus “s--t” (uttered by a child at one point), "hell," "damn," "ass," "a--hole," "crap," "goddamn," "oh my God," and more.
Consumerism: Not an issue
Drinking, drugs and smoking: One character is a former addict in the early stages of recovery. Some social drinking.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

View MoreView Less

Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 4.515

Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango

You say WIN WIN I say 50/50 by maloumozoo
I enjoy watching most of Paul Paul Giamatti films and would recommend that you check out his other recent film release ? Barney?s Version?, but I think that if you go check out WIN WIN that you should go see it at the reduced rate cinema( or put it on your netflix queue) like I did. I had trouble focusing on the characters in WIN WIN without wondering about the memorable characters that all of these actors previously played ( I.e. does Bobby Cannavale still have nasty tasting spunk? (Sex and The City) , Is Melanie Lynskey still a reproductive less mom ( Away We Go)? wouldn?t it be cool if George Clooney was really her brother ( Up In The Air) And how much money did Jeffrey Tambor leave in the wall?s of the banana booth ( Arrested Development)? All movie trivia aside though I'd recommend WIN WIN to anyone who loves America's armpit ( New Jersey) and to any dude whose caught a wicked case of mrsa after a junior varsity wrestling match.

by earthdragon

by Movie_Mole

Win Win review by dimarise
have to cry over this movie to find the most beautiful smile on yourself

by love_kerri

Read all Win Win reviews at Fandango