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The Family Man

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The Family Man (2000)

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Reviews Counted:126

Fresh:67

Rotten:59

Average Rating:5.5/10

Consensus: Despite good performances by Cage and especially by Leoni, The Family Man is too predictable and derivative to add anything new to the Christmas genre. Also, it sinks under its sentimentality.

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Nicolas Cage stars as Jack Campbell, a career-driven workaholic who has everything: an exciting job, a Ferarri, a closetful of Zegna suits, and the attention of any woman he wants. His life changes... Nicolas Cage stars as Jack Campbell, a career-driven workaholic who has everything: an exciting job, a Ferarri, a closetful of Zegna suits, and the attention of any woman he wants. His life changes when, after working a full day on Christmas Eve, he intervenes in a convenience store holdup. The apparent criminal, Cash (Cheadle), speaks to Jack in epigrams about his satisfaction with life. When Jack wakes up the next day, he's suddenly living in a New Jersey suburb, where he's married to his college sweetheart (Leoni) and is the father of two children. At first he is aghast, but Jack soon warms to his new life even though he knows that it cannot last. Unabashedly sentimental, the film is also a great comedy, as Cage gives a superb performance that makes the most of his character's obvious disgust with his suburban surroundings and even allows for a few moments of hysterics reminiscent of VAMPIRE'S KISS. Filled with great performances (notably Ms. Leoni's role as Jack's wife), inspired comedy, and a premise that suggests a slightly darker version of classics like A CHRISTMAS CAROL and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE FAMILY MAN is an affecting and entertaining holiday film. [More]

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, Amber Valletta, Harve Presnell

Director: Brett Ratner

Director: Brett Ratner
Screenwriter: David Diamond, David Weissman
Producer: Marc Abraham, Tony Ludwig, Alan Riche, Howard Rosenman
Studio: Universal Pictures

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Family Man

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Leoni is a revelation. Vibrant and gorgeous, she plays her role of the determined mother in love with teasing, salty charm, providing just enough grit to save the film from Ratner's slushy direction.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
09/19/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's rare that an American movie lets slip such a snobbish distaste for the humdrum lives of its blue-collar audience base, but of course it doesn't last.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Perfect feel-good Christmas-period family entertainment. Highly recommended.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Thoroughly engaging yet nothing new.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
12/10/01
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

A pleasant change of pace for both Cage and director Ratner.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/16/01
Ben Falk
Ben Falk
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If a movie is going to operate in such an obvious structure, it should do it well. The Family Man does not.

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
02/07/01
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
10/18/08
Jam! Movies
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
12/30/06
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A hunk of sentimental fluff that boasts an often-overstated performance by Cage and an annoying turn by Leoni.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
12/30/06
Robert Denerstein
Robert Denerstein
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

I voted for the happy ending, thusly, my enjoyment was diminished.

Full Review Source: Supercala.com | comment Comment
12/31/05
John Venable
John Venable
Supercala.com

If you're looking for a heartfelt, feel-good holiday movie, just give in and enjoy.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Chris Gore
Chris Gore
Film Threat

One of the few films this season able to offer something likely to entertain almost everyone.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Susannah Breslin
Susannah Breslin
Film Threat

The makers of The Family Man were trying to do a kind of reverse It's a Wonderful Life without ever realizing that it doesn't work on paper, much less on the screen.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
06/05/03
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Redeems itself with raw emotion and the evocative force of love.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

A holiday film Joe Lieberman could love, unembarrassed by its wholesome, sugary pro-family message.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marrit Ingman
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle

Cage's delivery of the Big Final Speech is strained and uncomfortable, and the film's ending is unsatisfying, offering a conflicted message and only a meager chance of hope.

Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
02/08/03
John R. McEwen
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online

Succeeds because of a combination of great performances (Tea Leoni is a real standout), a solid script and an ending that is not exactly what you would expect.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Chris Gore
Chris Gore
Film Threat

Not much more than a contemporary remix of Scrooged, but it's different enough to keep you awake and hipped-up enough to make you like it.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Susannah Breslin
Susannah Breslin
Film Threat

Cage and Leoni are cute together and struggle mightily, but they can't overcome this sinking ship of a script by David Diamond and David Weissman that telegraphs the ending in the first 20 minutes.

Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment Comment
10/21/02
Jean Lowerison
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan

There is not a lot wrong with The Family Man, except for an almost total lack of surprise and a nasty attitude toward exactly the people who are supposed to pay money to watch it.

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

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