Win Win

Actor Paul Giamatti, whose face evokes Everyman vulnerability, is perfectly cast as Mike Flaherty, a schlubby, cash-strapped suburban New Jersey lawyer with a family to support. When he discovers that one of his elderly clients, widower Leo Poplar (Burt Young), is not only growing senile but (with no family to care for him) might also become a ward of the state, Mike takes over as Leo's guardian because he needs the $1,508 monthly stipend. Despite Leo's wish to remain at home, Mike dumps him in an assisted-living facility. Although Leo's drug-addicted daughter evaporated years ago, his bleached-blond, tattooed, and battered teenaged grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) unexpectedly appears on Mike's doorstep, apparently with the intention of living with Leo after running away from his mother and her abusive boyfriend in Ohio. With Leo institutionalized, Mike and his wife, Jackie (Amy Ryan), agree to take in Kyle, who enrolls in the local high school where Mike moonlights as a wrestling coach. To the surprise of Mike and his assistant coach (Jeffrey Tambor), Kyle demonstrates amazingly ferocious skill on the mat, invigorating his scrawny teammates. But then Kyle's just-out-of-rehab mother (Melanie Lynskey) suddenly appears, accompanied by her own counsel (Margo Martindale), to complicate everyone's lives. Actor-turned-filmmaker Tom McCarthy's Win Win adroitly offers subtle character delineation and sharp observational humor, serving up a wry, whimsical, engaging, and ultimately irresistible film. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an interview with director Tom McCarthy and co-writer Joe Tiboni (7 min.), segments filmed at Sundance 2011 featuring McCarthy and star Paul Giamatti (3 min.) and costar David Thompson (3 min.), a “Family” promo featurette (3 min.), deleted scenes (2 min.), the “Think You Can Wait” music video by The National, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a winning film.] (S. Granger)