Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Gerard Butler | ... | Dane Jensen | |
Gretchen Mol | ... | Elise | |
Alison Brie | ... | Lynn | |
Anupam Kher | ... | Dr. Singh | |
Alfred Molina | ... | Lou Wheeler | |
Willem Dafoe | ... | Ed Blackridge | |
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Dylan Roberts | ... | Bob |
Dustin Milligan | ... | Sumner | |
Maxwell Jenkins | ... | Ryan | |
Julia Butters | ... | Lauren | |
Mimi Kuzyk | ... | Bernadine | |
Dwain Murphy | ... | Antoine | |
Kathleen Munroe | ... | Toni | |
Jess Berry | ... | Dottie | |
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Tim Hopper | ... | Tommy |
As the boss (Willem Dafoe) of a Chicago-based headhunter prepares to retire, Dane Jensen (Gerard Butler), who works at the Blackridge Recruiting agency arranging jobs for engineers, vies to achieve his longtime goal of taking over the company going head-to-head with his ambitious rival, Lynn Vogel (Alison Brie). However, Dane's 10-year-old son, Ryan (Maxwell Jenkins), is suddenly diagnosed with cancer and his professional priorities at work and personal priorities at home begin to clash with one another. Written by LuzerneCountySheriff
A Family Man tells the story of Dane Jensen (Butler), a headhunter who is proficient at his job, and will sink to all lows to be the best at it. He balances that with a home life, which he maybe isn't home for enough, but is putting in the time to make ends meet for his family.
His whole world is thrown for a loop when his eldest child is found to have a terminal disease. The story follows an extremely predictable path of redemption.
The disappointing aspect of the movie is in what could have been. Butler gives a solid performance as the main character, and Alfred Molina, Willem Defoe, Gretchen Mol, and Alison Brie are all equally up the task. However, the script does such a good job painting Butler's character as ruthless that when it wants to redeem him, all you can do is ask: Really? Similarly Defoe's and Molina's arcs betray they characters.
It really is a shame, because the actors deserved better,