The Family Man

Rating:
Summary: Y2K Version of 'Trading Places'
Review: In 2000's 'The Family Man,' Nicholas Cage stars as a blue collar businessman who is more dedicated to earning the almighty buck, and less towards celebrating traditional holidays where families reunite and mingle, such as Christmas (which is the holiday that the film centers around, believe it or not). Jack Campbell (Cage) leads this scrooge-like characteristic by example when he, unlike other husbands, opts to be working in his office at 8:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. He even schedules important work plans for Christmas day.
However, the next morning, everything is different for Jack, including his car, his family and his home. He forces himself into making people continue to believe that he is someone else.
'The Family Man' is very original (my caption suggests it as an improvement of 'Trading Places,' but it is much more than that). There is no shortage of humor, or excitement in the film that may very well be Cage's best to date.

Rating:
Summary: A Better Ending
Review: I was left flat at the ending, as although they do end up together, the kids are not with them. Better ending would have Nick C go to London, fall asleep on flight, have the story as a dream. In London he is not sure what to believe. He wanders around and runs into the "angel" (Don Cheadle), who with a wink of the eye, or some similar gesture, lets Nick know that it was a dream, but it is the actual future, and that he has a big choice to make, so Nick gets back on a plane, and comes back, to be with Tea L and have kids, etc. Obviously like "It's a Wonderful Life", but so what, it works better than existing ending.

Rating:
Summary: An American dream...
Review: I won't take your time and rehash the details of the plot, but I will say one thing. The reason this movie succeeds is not the good acting or the heart warming plot. No my dear friends, the answer lies much deeper than that. "The Family Man" is an American movie that capitalizes on the American dream. Not money, not fame, but to have a loving family is the American dream.

The movie is good, but the connotations of "The Family Man" are the true goods. And in this case, the goods are delivered!

Rating:
Summary: A Deeper Meaning
Review: This film is "It's A Wonderful Life" in reverse. A plot that has been done before (Heaven Can Wait, Made in Heaven) but intelligently, with wit and purpose. So many movies introduce clever plot angles and ideas but never fully develop them. "Family Man" is an exception.
Tea Leoni is just wonderful, and Nicolas Cage gives yet another solid performance. Cage is one of our finest actors, and he doesn't disappoint here.
The movie can be viewed by the unperceptive as mere entertainment, but to me it is more about our multidimensional nature. Nicolas Cage gets an opportunity to experience a completely different life choice in an alternate reality. He finds a deeper meaning to his existence, a life path which he would not ever even remotely have considered. The ending isn't "and they lived happily ever after", but another life path choice for both the main characters. In all, a very satisfying movie that moves along and keeps your interest.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect Life?
Review: Is there ever such a thing as a perfect life? Jack Campbell seems to think so. According to him, his life is "perfect". just the way it is. Of course, tempting fate brings about typical consequences. With perfect timing, in steps an "angel" to show Jack just what his life would have been like if he had only made a different choice thirteen years earlier.

Shades of "A Christmas Carol" and "It's a Wonderful Life" filter through the movie with subtle nuances.

For Jack, he learns that what he has doesn't make his life perfect, but who he is, inside.

The new Christmas classic - The Family Man.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie!!!
Review: This is an under-rated, truly excellent film and I urge all to see it! One of my favorites of all-time! In addition to having such qualities as great acting, directing, and screenplay, THE FAMILY MAN teaches a beautiful and true message about life -- that money and material wealth do not give true happiness, but other things in life, like the love of a family, do. Nicholas Cage's happily-rich character thinks he has it all, until an angel gives him a glimpse of what his life would have been like had he taken another path..and gives him a taste of everything that he's been missing out on in life..the happiness from a not-rich loving family that is so much greater than what he got out of his big bucks before. The ending is one of the most moving, significant parts of the whole film. I urge you to see it and really think about the message that it gives people about life as you watch it. In addition to having all of this and being moving it is also very funny. Hopefully it will gain more appreciation (which it deserves) and one day become a classic! Kudos to everyone who worked on this wise & intelligent film! Many ages can enjoy this film..I'm 16 and love it. See it!

Rating:
Summary: The Family Man Works !
Review: It's A Wonderful Life on Steroids. Watch this movie and you'll want to see it again. The storyline sounds like a cliche, but it works. It really works. Trust me on this. One of the best and most memorable movies I have evr seen

Rating:
Summary: Nick Does It All
Review: Romantic holiday dramedy about a successful Wall Street broker who learns what's missing in his life after a heavenly messenger shows him a glimpse of an alternate lifestyle.

Rating:
Summary: If Kate also had the same dream.......
Review: Think about if the ending is that when Jack asked Kate to stay in the Airport, Jack told Kate about his dream......Kate was touched and surprised because she also had the same dream last night..........

Anyway, this is a heart warming movie.

Rating:
Summary: thought-provoking and an all=around great movie
Review: this was an amazing movie that appeared to be predictable, but wasn't. it provided a thought-provoking look into the life of the main character had he made a different choice 13 years earlier on whether or not to leave his girlfriend/fiancee for a year to go to London. the bulk of the movie is about his realizing himself and what he has become and what kind of person he wants to be. the end is somewhat sad but with a window of hope for the future. this is an excellent movie and definitely worth watching.