Upon watching “Rush Hour,” Nicolas “Nic” Cage steps out of his comfort zone after starring in action movies and character driven dramas such as “Con Air,” “Face/Off,” “Leaving Las Vegas” & “Bringing Out the Dead.” He signed on to star in a feel good romantic Christmas fantasy comedy titled, The Family Man.” Inspired by “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Nic plays a wealthy businessman in New York City named, Jack who suddenly wakes up he’s married to his ex-girlfriend and his kids. Turns out he’s in an alternate timeline where he didn’t get rich and lives in New Jersey. Jack must come to terms if he wants to return to his original time or stay with the family he never had. The Premise I’m referring to is none other than “The Family Man.”
Released in 2000, (same year Gone in 60 Seconds came out) it received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office hit. Nicolas Cage will play as an alternate version of Spider-Man in “Spider-Man Noir.” It’ll stream on MGM Plus sometime around 2026. He’ll also play John Madden in a biopic the exact same year the aforementioned Marvel TV show will stream. By the way, I’m reviewing selected Christmas movies during December month.
Today’s review contains no SPOILERS.
Light & Dark Aspects
Light: Nicolas “Nic” Cage did a great job for his performance. He usually hams up his performance a bit.
Other Cast Members such as Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle & Jermey Piven all did a decent job for their respective performances.
Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Money Talks, Red Dragon) did a solid job directing. I know he’s a prick in real life, but I’m only praising him as a director.
David Diamond & David Weissman co-wrote the script. They also co-wrote “Old Dogs.” Which is a guilty pleasure of mine.
Danny Elfman orchestrated the soundtrack.
Fun Facts
- Nic Cage also starred in another Christmas movie, “Moonstruck.” It counts as a Christmas movie.
- I got my pic with the composer himself at Fan Expo Dallas 2024. Good times.
Funny Moments made me laugh. Especially Jack singing an Italian song during the Opening Credits.
Cinematography’s shot in stable condition.
Jack’s chemistry with Kate serves as the main highlight.
Character Development involving Jack. As the movie progresses, he forms a bond with a family he never had.
If you own a DVD/Blu-Ray copy, the crew provide audio commentary reflecting their behind-the-scenes experience.
Dark: Pacing sometimes feels like a slow burn.
The movie’s a tad dated. For instance, there’s an establishing shot of the Twin Towers. This was before 9/11.
The Final Verdict: B, FOR BETTER!
The Family Man’s an underrated romantic Christmas fantasy comedy. If you’re looking for something to watch during the holiday season, give this one a shot.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 