WIN WIN

The characters in Tom McCarthy's films feel like old friends—a bit worn around the edges and a bit worse for the wear, but you are always happy to see them.

After his lovely films The Station Agent and The Visitor, writer/director Tom McCarthy returns with the equally lovely Win Win. McCarthy is a filmmaker who is quietly carving out a small niche for himself, slowly building a resume of sweet sad movies about makeshift families. These families aren't the traditional ones with a mom, dad, 2.5 children, and a dog. These families are friends, neighbors, and strangers; troubled teens, lonely drifters, hot dog vendors, widowers, wrestling coaches, and elderly folks. The thing they all have in common is that they have each other's back when they are needed, and are willing to give each other a second chance, which is often much more than a biological family can promise.

McCarthy makes exceptional films about regular folks who are, for the most part, unexceptional. In this case, we have Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) who is a lawyer for elderly people. His business is struggling, so in a desperate, spontaneous moment, he agrees to become the guardian to one of his elderly clients named Leo (Burt Young). Guardianship pays $1500 a month, which is easy money to Mike, and even easier if he just quietly drops off Leo (who is flush with cash) at a nursing home anyway. Someone else can take care of him, right?

One afternoon while checking on Leo's house, Mike is surprised to find bleach-blonde teen Kyle (Alex Shaffer) perched on the porch, looking for his grandfather. Kyle has shown up from out-of-state on his own, not wanting to live with his deadbeat druggie mom anymore. So Mike suddenly finds himself and his wife Jackie taking Kyle in under their roof for awhile... because, really, what are you supposed to do? Next thing they know, the stay extends longer than expected, so they end up enrolling him in the high school where Mike is the wrestling coach.

In the hands of any other director, this movie would have turned into a feel-good film about redemption and finding your inner winner. Kyle's surprise talents as a wrestler would become the focus, and he and Mike would find a new purpose and focus with his success. But, like in real-life, most people aren't state champs, or have perfect parents, or are completely 100% moral. Mike has his own guilt to deal with regarding his behavior toward Leo. Kyle's effed-up home life catches up with him. And thing don't always turn out all shiny shiny.

But, like in his other movies, McCarthy's characters aren't 100% good, nor are they 100% bad. However, they are 100% relatable. In the same way that his characters choose to look past mistakes and give each other a second chance, you can't help adopt these people into your heart in the same way. You want to give this whole movie a hug by the end, and wish the characters the best as they move forward to clean up their messed up lives.