A Family Man (2016)

A headhunter whose life revolves around closing deals in a survival-of-the-fittest boiler room, battles his top rival for control of their job placement company -- his dream of owning the company clashing with the needs of his family.

Director:

Mark Williams

Writer:

Bill Dubuque

Stars:

Alison Brie, Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alison Brie	...	Lynn Wilson
Gerard Butler	...	Dane Jensen
Willem Dafoe	...	Ed Blackridge
Dustin Milligan	...	Sumner
Gretchen Mol	...	Elise Jensen
Alfred Molina	...	Lou Wheeler
Kathleen Munroe	...	Toni
Anupam Kher	...	Dr. Savraj Singh
Julia Butters	...	Lauren Jensen
Mimi Kuzyk	...	Bernadine
Mayko Nguyen	...	Teacher
Maxwell Jenkins	...	Ryan Jensen
Sadie Munroe	...	Kid #1
Stephen Bogaert	...	HR Manager
Dwain Murphy	...	Antoine

Storyline

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.

---

Taglines:

What are you working for?

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Family Man

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

G-BASE, Zero Gravity Management

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Is the 1st time ever that both Gerard Butler and Willem Dafoe have starred in a movie together.

---

Quotes

Lou Wheeler: All families got problems but you only got one.

---

Connections

References Wall Street (1987)

---

Soundtracks

Frank's Wizards Hat
Written and performed by Simon Miminis

User Reviews

'All families got problems but you only got one.'

Writer Bill Dubuque and Director Mark Williams have created a tender, sensitive family story that is well developed and addresses many of the issues we all face. A brilliant cast delivers the goods with style and empathy - and Chicago has never been so beautifully captured photographically as cinematographer Shelly Johnson has accomplished. The musical score is by the always-reliable Mark Isham.

As the boss (Willem Dafoe) of a Chicago-based headhunter, Dane Jensen (Gerard Butler), who works at the Blackridge Recruiting agency arranging jobs for engineers, prepares to retire, Jensen vies to achieve his longtime goal of taking over the company going head-to-head with his ambitious rival, Lynn Vogel (Alison Brie). Factors intervene: Dane's close friend Lou (Alfred Molina) is unemployed and desperate for work, Dane's wife Elise (Gretchen Mol) is concerned Dane is not spending time with his family, and Dane's 10-year-old son, Ryan (Max Jenkins), is suddenly diagnosed with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia by the doctor Singh (Anupam Kher) and his professional priorities at work and personal priorities at home begin to clash with one another. Dane spends quality time with Ryan by touring the beautiful architectural wonders of Chicago and Ryan's wise observations set Dane on a new path. Dane finds a job for Lou (at Dane's expense of giving up a headhunter's fee for a friend), and Dane and Elise grow closer. Dane is pulled between achieving his professional dream and supporting his wife and son, who need him now more than ever.

Much of the success of the film is attributable to the fine performance by Gerard Butler, but he is enhanced by the performances of the entire cast. A very 'feel good' movie, perfect to restore faith in humankind just when we need it the most.