A well written and well acted comedy drama

Rating: 6/10 (3 September 2012)

This is a film which is a kind of back handed "On the Blind Side", utilising the same basic energies as will be found from its award winning predecessor but with subplots which are inventive and cunningly woven into twists and turns. It is well acted, brilliantly so in parts, and is allowed to flow naturally upon the screen.
We start with an economically troubled lawyer having a rather bad day which steadily declines. We get the picture: this guy is suffering. His energy is low and he is hardly supporting his family from his second job as a wrestling coach. Trouble really starts when a simple but devious way out appears and he rather clumsily takes it.
Amy Ryan (as Jackie Flaherty) and Alex Shaffer (as Kyle) win the acting plaudits, with very good support from elsewhere, especially Melanie Lynskey (as Kyle's mother). The script is generally interesting and involving and the cinematography, especially in the wrestling scenes, is well presented.
As with "Blind Side" this is a movie to embrace and enjoy, although it is not quite in the same league as a whole.
Six out of ten.