Review of The Weather Man (2005) by Arth J — 01 Jul 2018

This somber comedy-drama is worthwhile. Nicholas Cage plays a weatherman, David Spritz, whose marriage is failing, his career is unfulfilling, he feels inadequate next to his father (played by Michael Caine).

Had this film been made in the 1970s, Spritz would have been described as going through "midlife crisis." Spritz tries to turn his life around and comes to realizing that he has mainly to change certain attitudes.

That may sound trite, but messages of resignation and acceptance are rare in American mainstream movies, and I found it refreshing to see such a message in this one. The cast is great: not just Cage and Caine, who are both their usual brilliant selves, but also Nicholas Hault and Gemmene de la Pena, in heartwarming performances as Spritz's children.

This film deserves praise as a serious, gentle, somewhat somber piece about letting go of illusions and living life as it is. It doesn't succumb to the pressure to have a sickly sweet happy ending, although the ending, I would say, is, in fact, happy.

I wish there were more American films like it. I think we need them.