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 | parallel universe | career man | reflection | crisis of conscience | 

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Taglines:

What if you made different choices? What if you said yes, instead of no? What if you got a second chance?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | 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 USA:

$15,104,055, 25 December 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$75,793,305

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$124,745,083

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:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the DVD commentary, the scene where Jack gets back into his minivan and the minivan won't start was a happy accident that wasn't supposed to happen. The director thought it was a perfect beat and left it in the final cut.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie, when Jack is supposed to be going to JFK airport to stop Kate from leaving, the scenes from the airport are actually LaGuardia Airport.

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Quotes

Kate: You look amazing in that suit. I mean really - wow! Off the charts, great.
Jack: It's an unbelievable thing. Wearing a suit actually makes me feel like a better person.
[looks at the suit longer]
Jack: I'm gonna buy it.
Kate: [looks at price tag] It's $2,400. Are you out of your mind? Come on, let's go.
Jack: She got those shoes.
Kate: Those shoes were $25. Come on. Take it off, all right? We'll go to the food court and get one of those funnel cakes you like.
[to Annie and Josh]
Kate: You're daddy's a crazy guy.

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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

Version of Mr. Destiny (1990)

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Soundtracks

Going To The Zoo
Written by Tom Paxton
Performed by Raffi Cavoukian
Courtesy of Shoreline Records/Rounder Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

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.