The Family Man (2000)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Brett Ratner

Writers (WGA):

David Diamond (written by) &
David Weissman (written by)

Release Date:

22 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

What if...

Plot:

A fast-lane investment broker, offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Wall Street | Parallel Universe | Bowling | Love

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Jack Campbell
Téa Leoni	...	Kate Reynolds
Don Cheadle	...	Cash
Jeremy Piven	...	Arnie
Saul Rubinek	...	Alan Mintz
Josef Sommer	...	Peter Lassiter
Makenzie Vega	...	Annie Campbell
Jake Milkovich	...	Josh Campbell
Ryan Milkovich	...	Josh Campbell
Lisa Thornhill	...	Evelyn Thompson
Harve Presnell	...	Big Ed
Mary Beth Hurt	...	Adelle
Amber Valletta	...	Paula
Francine York	...	Lorraine
Ruth Williamson	...	Betty Peterson

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sensuality and some language.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37672) | Malaysia:U | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Denmark:7 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Closter, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The scene with Jack looking at his old book and cologne that Kate gives him back was originally supposed to have Led Zeppelin's "All of My Love" playing in the background but the song was too expensive to acquire.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The color of the inspection sticker is bluish-purple. This does not match either of the current colors. Inspections due in 2001 are dark blue, while inspections due in 2002 are of lighter shade of purple than shown.

Quotes:

Jack: I'm sorry I was such a saint before, and I'm such a *prick* now!

Movie Connections:

Version of Mr. Destiny (1990)

Soundtrack:

After Hours

Worth watching more than once

"The unexamined life is not worth living." Plato put these words in the mouth of Socrates. Brett Ratner puts this theme into `The Family Man.' This is not "It's a Wonderful Life." While it is a "feel good movie," it is an intelligent, reflective one. Neither of the parallel lives led by the main character is shown to be flawless. Both have their attractions. Jack, the lead character, is forced from his comfort zone by a "glimpse" of a life connected by commitment and love to friends and family. This movie does something for me few "feel good" movies ever come close to causing. This movie makes me think about what I really value in life. Both pro-capitalist and pro-family, "The Family Man" either leaves you pondering whether your life is consistent with your values or goes over your head and leaves you with the impression that your emotions have been manipulated by another crass commercial Christmas movie. It depends on what the viewer brings to the table.

P.S. Tea Leoni's shower scene has got to be the sexiest portrayal of a movie mom I ever saw.