The Family Man on DVD (2000)

Average rating: 69%

from 1,698 members

6 Critics reviews
55 Members reviews

Starring:	Nicolas Cage, Tea Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, Saul Rubinek, Josef Sommer
Director:	Brett Ratner
Studio:	ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time:	125 mins
Certificate:
User collections:	My random 100 or so, So that I don't forget the ones which made me laugh, cry or sit up on the edge of my seat, my films, Films that play with your head.
Genres:	Comedy
Languages:	English
Released:	02/07/2001

Brief synopsis of The Family Man

Nicolas Cage stars as Jack Campbell, a career-driven workaholic who has everything: an exciting job, a Ferarri, a closetful of Zegna suits, and the attention of any woman he wants. His life changes when, after working a full day on Christmas Eve, he intervenes in a convenience store holdup. The apparent criminal, Cash (Don Cheadle), speaks to Jack in epigrams about his satisfaction with life. When Jack wakes up the next day, he's suddenly living in a New Jersey suburb, where he's married to his college sweetheart (Tea Leoni) and is the father of two children. At first he is aghast, but Jack soon warms to his new life even though he knows that it cannot last. Unabashedly sentimental, the film is also a great comedy, as Cage gives a superb performance that makes the most of his character's obvious disgust with his suburban surroundings and even allows for a few moments of hysterics reminiscent of VAMPIRE'S KISS. Filled with great performances (notably Ms. Leoni's role as Jack's wife), inspired comedy, and a premise that suggests a slightly darker version of classics like A CHRISTMAS CAROL and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE FAMILY MAN is an affecting and entertaining holiday film.

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Critics Reviews

Radio Times

Nicolas Cage is the high-powered businessman who goes to bed in his designer Manhattan apartment on Christmas Eve, but wakes up in a suburban home on Christmas Day, complete with wife, dog and kids. It seems he's getting the chance to see what his life would have been like had he stayed with his college sweetheart (Téa Leoni) instead of pursuing a highly successful life in the fast lane. Cage, who displayed a knack for comedy earlier in his career with Peggy Sue Got Married, is fun as the fish out of water trying to adapt to school runs and working at a local tyre company, and Leoni is spot-on as his slightly harassed wife. While the film's feel-good factor probably won't work at other times of the year, this cute seasonal fare is perfect viewing to get you in the “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” mood.

Rating of 1
stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Slick, sentimental retread of It's A Wonderful Life, in which a selfish man is redeemed; it has the disadvantage that his bachelor existence seems the more preferable of the two, and that, while the earlier film was concerned with the effect of one

Total Film

"...A truly substantial comedy....[The film] gift-wraps a dream role for its star, allowing Cage to meld his pre- and post-Oscar personae..."

See all 6 Critics Reviews »