Review of The Family Man (2000) by R.j. L — 17 Nov 2009

In Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas epic,"It's a wonderful Life" James Stewart got to see what life would be like for the people around him and the world if he had never been born. There by discovering that his life was not bad but missing something.

In this 2000 rendition of that classic film Nicolas Cage plays a similar character, his characters name is Jack Campbell and he's a greedy and self absorbed investment banker who's only goal and love in life is to make money. Well that all changes one night when he stops a young African-American man named Cash from shooting a clerk over a lotto ticket but little does Jack know that this man is not some ordinary street punk but is in reality an Angel sent to help Jack changes his greedy ways. When Cash ask Jack what he wants out of life? Jack replies, "I've already got everything I need." Cash tells him that he brought this on himself and leaves Jack not really thinking about what he had said goes home to bed and the next day wakes up, not as the playboy investment banker he is, but a married tire sales men of two with his college sweetheart he left behind 13 years earlier. Now the only way Jack is ever going to get his old life back is too first learn to live and appreciate life as, "The Family Man".

"The Family Man" is heartwarming, charming, sweet, touching and an all around great time for anyone in the mood for a great Christmas fairytale. While the story may seem a little familiar it does have it's moments that just really grab you and pull you into the deep rooted story about love, family and making the right choices even if at the time they seem wrong. It's one of those films that you have to watch and see just for the story or not even that, see it for the great performances, the high spirited nature of the events unfolding onscreen see it just because you've got the itching for a good Christmas story. Whatever the reason you see this film see it with an open mind and an open heart and I can promise you that if you do the story will leave you with a great and warm feeling on the inside. All in all Brett Ratner's "The Family Man" is nothing short of beautiful and touching entertainment at it's very, very best and will entertain if not lift you up.

Nicolas Cage gives one of the best and brightest performances of his career as first being the stuck up, self absorb Campbell and then slowly but surely changing into the man deep down inside he knows he is. It's something magical to watch onscreen and the change in Cages performance as the film progress is astounding it's something new for Cage and it plays out very well for him onscreen. Tea Leoni is astounding in this as the under payed and over worked wife of Jack in the alternate reality, Leoni plays the part with wit, charm and style and really shows how life as a suburban housewife can be. Leoni doesn't lie in her performance or tries to sugar coat what motherhood is like. She shows you how it works and how she helps the other Jack find solace in being a blue collar worker. Don Cheadle doesn't have allot of screen time in this film but the parts he is in are great and well preformed. But all in all the cast is phenomenal and really shine in this brilliant and beautiful holiday love story.

"The Family Man" Has always been a favorite of mine to watch at Christmas time mainly because of the story and the message it plays out for you. It's just such an amazing film and it's so well told and crafted that it at sometimes doesn't feel like a movie with actors, but a really true to life story about a man who lost his way and has to find his way home. It's a great Christmas film and an amazing drama about how the choices we make can either make us a better person or make us into something we sometimes barley recognize. "The Family man" is a motion picture experience that is pretty original and something that you've never seen before , you may think you've seen this kind of story before but trust me when you watch it you won't think about comparing it to other films because this one is a one of a kind modern classic.