“Win It All” Continues Trend of Netflix Original Movies
Frequent Netflix collaborator Joe Swanberg returns once more with another down-to-Earth story.
A man who can’t get out of his own way. We’ve all seen some version of this story before. In Win It All, that man is Eddie, who upon being asked what he does for a living, can only say: “It’s hard to tell these days.” He’s played by Jake Johnson, who’s most known for playing another lovable “loser”, Nick Miller, in New Girl . Oh, and Eddie has a gambling problem.
One day, Eddie is offered a business proposition: safeguard a duffel bag while its owner serves a stint in prison and get $10,000 at the other end. Can’t screw that up, right? There’s a catch, though: Eddie can’t open the duffel bag. He has very minimal self-control, as we quickly learn, so when Eddie gives in and opens the bag, there is no surprise (the bag-opening scene is the best scene of the movie).
As you probably guessed, the bag is full of cash (and other interesting items), and because Eddie is trapped in a harsh cycle of needing money, having a gambling problem, and having very little self-control, he borrows some of the cash — against the advice of his sponsor/reality translator, played by Key & Peele’s Keegan-Michael Key — and wins a “next round’s on me” amount of money (we’re shown a running balance of his winnings/losings). He also meets Eva, a charming nurse who’s a single mother.
Eddie tries to maximize his winnings by upping the stakes, but to nobody’s surprise but his own, he just ends up in a huge hole. The proverbial shit then hits the proverbial fan when he learns that the man who’s money he gambled away is being released from prison early. Eddie panics, and after years of resistance, is forced to go work for his brother, Ron, the family-man played by Joe Lo Truglio, and the landscaping company their father, “Chips” (yes, that’s his nickname because he gambled), left behind.
Eddie begins to transform: he leaves bars at a responsible hour, sets multiple alarms so he’s not late for work, stays late, and remains true to Eva, who he believes could be “the one.” As life with Eva gets better and better, his gambling debt gets worse and worse. The two opposing forces soon meet, forcing Eddie into a “one last time” situation, where if things go according to plan, he’ll win, and win it all.
Win It All continues multiple Netflix trends. It adds to Netflix’s growing collection of original movies and it continues the trend of Netflix’s collaboration with up-and-coming auteur Joe Swanberg, who in his mid-30’s, has 30 directorial credits and 25 writing credits to his name. His work includes 2013’s Drinking Buddies, 2015’s Digging For Fire, both of which feature Win It All lead Jake Johnson, and the 2016 Netflix original series Easy — a by-episode anthology series that features, among many well-known names: Dave Franco, Orlando Bloom, Emily Ratajkowski, Aya Cash, and a cameo by Jake Johnson.
Swanberg’s work has a very cohesive, low-key feel. It often feels like all his work takes place in the same universe, and beer is practically a character in all his work. The premises are simple, the stories are relatable, and the visuals are fine, but not amazing. A more selective viewer may describe his work as dull and monotone, while others may find his deliberately-humble and low-budget style charming and welcoming. Needless to say, we will see more of Joe Swanberg (Easy has been renewed for another season) and the trend of Netflix original movies will continue.
