These days, it’s not uncommon to hear talk of financial pressures, people struggling to make ends meet and feeling down on their luck, and Mike Flaherty’s case is no different.
In “Win Win,” Paul Giamatti plays Mike, a struggling lawyer, husband to Jackie (Amy Ryan) and father of two young daughters, constantly reminded of his financial woes. His business is hurting, the office’s water heater is in dire need of repair and his side job as a high school wrestling coach isn’t faring too well, especially considering the team’s losing streak.
In order to alleviate the stress of these problems, Mike decides to become the legal guardian of Leo Poplar (played by “Rocky” alum Burt Young), an elderly client of his who’s in the early stages of dementia but offers a gratuitous commission of $1,500 a month for taking care of him. However, Mike’s got enough on his plate as it is and in a selfish state of mind, drops Leo off at the old folks home and still collects the cash.
It’s easy to disapprove of Mike’s actions, but you wonder if you would do the same. Times are tough, and Mike feels like he’s stuck in a rut, that is until Leo’s grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) enters the picture.
He’s a runaway teen with bleach blond hair and a bad rap, looking to live with his grandfather, but ends up staying with the Flaherty’s when they realize he has no other place to go.
It’s quite a selfless act on the Flaherty’s part, especially because they are in no ideal financial position to feed, clothe and house another kid. But they do it anyway because they simply believe it’s the right thing to do.
Kyle returns the favor on the mat. As it turns out, he’s one of the best wrestlers Mike has ever seen, but when Kyle’s recently sober mom makes an unexpected appearance, Mike realizes his current plans could fall to pieces.
Giamatti and Shaffer have excellent chemistry, bringing to life the budding relationship between a disheartened everyman and a misunderstood kid. As a newcomer to acting and a former high school wrestler himself, Shaffer gives a solid performance as Kyle, a young man of few words and an impressive talent for annihilating his opponents, which altogether is entertaining to see play out on screen.
The supporting cast also contributes to the film’s charm, with Ryan playing the feisty, Jersey girl Jackie Flaherty and Bobby Cannavale and Jeffrey Tambor as Mike’s two enthusiastic assistant coaches who can’t seem to stop bickering.
The film doesn’t pile on the sap or strive to be a profoundly inspirational tale, rather its characters’ honesty and a great script make “Win Win” all the more pleasant to watch. In other words, it does what movies like “The Blind Side” couldn’t do.
Although “Win Win” is somewhat predictable and features the type of neat resolutions that don’t always come together in real life, director Thomas McCarthy produces a wholly satisfying film you’ll be glad you saw.
