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Win Win Review

Movies.com Critics

3.0

Dave White Profile

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.

  • 50

    out of 100

    Variety

    A disappointing domestic comedy in which all but the audience get what they want.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    Village Voice

    A "quirky" dramedy in the "Juno"/"Little Miss Sunshine" mode, but lacking the latter's vibrant ensemble and the former's snappy patter, Win Win is indie with the edges sanded down completely.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    The New York Times A.O. Scott

    Win Win goes a bit soft in places, protecting its characters from serious danger or tough moral reckoning. But the film's niceness is also central to its appeal, because nearly all of the characters are people you enjoy spending time with.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    I'm happy I saw Win Win. It would have been possible to be happier.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

    Pure pleasure to experience. Written and directed by Tom McCarthy with an impeccable feel for off-center human comedy at its funniest and most heartfelt, its low-key qualities are so relaxed and unforced every moment feels like a gift.

    Read Full Review

  • 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

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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
  • message true3

    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.

  • rolemodels true3

    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 false1

    Violence: A teenage boy shoves another; he also yells at an adult. Adults yell and argue.

  • sex false1

    Sex: Some sexual innuendo.

  • language false4

    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 false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: One character is a former addict in the early stages of recovery. Some social drinking.

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

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 4.515
Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango
4

by classof64

4

Win Win by zinbob
Great movie. Paul Giamati and Amy Ryan were both excellent. The young man that plays the teenage wrestler also did a first rate job.

5

by DaveyB1978

4

Giamatti and Ryan wonderful by tsw9406atl
I love Paul Giamatti as an everyman type actor, this guy is us, playing great roles as an everyday man we can relate to! I can certainly relate to his plumbing skills at the office! Amy Ryan who I loved in Gone Baby Gone plays a great role in the movie as Giamatti's wife, first as the suspecting nervous mother afraid to let this stranger into her lair and then being won over by Kyle/Alex Shaffer as the troubled teen who wins over the whole family and the high school wrestling team! In a supporting role, Burt Young is superb as Kyle's aging grandfather fighting off early dementia. Its a wonderful little movie, be careful of the profanity for the younger set, hey its set in Jersey, you got a problem with that. Forget about it!

5

by drewaleto

5

by bkamdar

5

by felicialeigh

4

by earthdragon

4

it's a win-win by mommagrec
We enjoyed every minute of this film. Superb casting really made it work for me. A perfect balance of poignancy and humor. The story was told very effectively without exploiting emotions. I would watch it again.

Read all Win Win reviews at Fandango
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