The Family Man (2000)

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.

Director:

Brett Ratner

Writers:

David Diamond, David Weissman

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

A modern-day Frank Capra story. Jack Campbell, a successful and talented businessman, is happily living his single life. He has everything, or so he thinks. One day he wakes up in a new life where he didn't leave his college girlfriend for a London trip. He's married to Kate, lives in Jersey and has two kids. He, of course, desperately wants his life back for which he has worked 13 years for. He's president of P. K. Lassiter Investment House and not a tire salesman at Big Ed's. He drives a Ferrari and not a mini-van that never starts. And most importantly he doesn't wake up in the morning with kids jumping on the bed. After a bad start, day by day he's more confident in his new life and starts to see what he's been missing. Turns out money's good to have but that's not everything.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | bowling | parallel universe | salesman | love | 

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Taglines:

What if...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sensuality and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official French Site Official Site (Spanish)

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

22 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Family Man

Filming Locations:

Closter, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£521,322 (UK) (22 December 2000)

Gross:

ESP 596,451,055 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Beacon Communications, Riche-Ludwig Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene where Kate is lying in the bed and Jack is asking her to remember him no matter what, Kate is reading a book called 'Being There' by Jerzy Kosinski. The book is barely seen in the screen but it has a connection. It is the story of Chauncey Gardiner, an enigmatic but distinguished man who emerges from nowhere to become an heir to the throne of a Wall Street tycoon. Similar to the storyline of Jack at that moment, as he tries to move into the investment firm from a tire salesman job.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Jack: Lemme see the ticket.
Cash: Was I talkin' to you?
Jack: Maybe I'll buy it from you.
Cash: Stupid ass white boy gets capped tryin' to be a hero, news at 11. Is that what you wanna see? DO YOU WANNA DIE?

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Crazy Credits

As actor Robert Downey Sr.'s name scrolls up the screen during the credits, the words "(a prince)" appear next to it. This happens in other movies in which he appears.

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Connections

Referenced in Confession (2005)

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Soundtracks

"This Could Be Heaven"
Written by Seal/D. Palmer/H. Jackman/G. Gershoni
Performed by Seal
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

User Reviews

Loved it.

This is a heart-warming, if somewhat sentimental film at times, but with a superb cast, and very well written. The chemistry between Cage and Leoni is something quite rare - in fact, I can't think of a film with such amazing chemistry between the two leads.

As far as the storyline is concerned, I don't have too much to add to the comments that are already posted. Whatever limitations the film's storyline or premise has, the individual performances rise above it.

In the DVD extras there is an interesting comment by the producer where he says he challenges any man to watch the film and not want to live with Tea Leoni and I must say I wholeheartedly agree with him. To be fair her character is completely idealised (naturally beautiful but unaffected by it, intelligent, insightful, sexy, gracious, humble, caring, unstoppably positive and non-demanding). Have you ever met anyone like this in real life?

I enjoyed this film so much that it just about creeps into my all time top ten. The only reason a romantic comedy made it in there is because the performances and the chemistry elevate the film above any other romantic comedy I have seen, both before and since.