The Family Man

2000

The Family Man

Critics 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.

53%

TOMATOMETER

Reviews Counted: 128

67%
liked it

Audience Score

User Ratings: 194,623

TOMATOMETER

N/A
All Critics | Top Critics
Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

AUDIENCE SCORE

67%
Average Rating: 3.1/5

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Movie Info

Wall Street playboy, Jack Campbell is at the top of his professional game with little time for anything else. Jack's lavish, fast-paced lifestyle drastically changes one snowy Christmas night when he unwittingly stumbles into the middle of a grocery store holdup and in a bold display of self-preservation disarms the gunman. The next morning he wakes up in a suburban New Jersey bedroom lying next to Kate, his college sweetheart who he left in order to pursue his career, and to the horrifying discovery that his former life no longer exists. As he stumbles through this alternate suburban universe, Jack begins to feel strangely comfortable in this new role of loving husband and father to two children. Jack finds himself at a crossroad, where he must choose between his high-powered career and the woman he loves.

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Cast

Nicolas Cage
as Jack
Téa Leoni
as Kate
Don Cheadle
as Cash
Jeremy Piven
as Arnie
Saul Rubinek
as Alan
Josef Sommer
as Peter
Harve Presnell
as Big Ed
Mary Beth Hurt
as Adelle
Lisa Thornhill
as Evelyn
Amber Valletta
as Paula
Francine York
as Lorraine
Ruth Williamson
as Mrs. Peterson
John F. O'Donohue
as Tony
John O'Donohue
as Tony the Doorman
Makenzie Vega
as Annie
Jake Milkovich
as Josh
Tarri Markel
as Neighbor/Party Guest
Ryan Milkovich
as Josh
Daniel Whitner
as Frank the Security Man
Lucy Lin
as Executive No. 1
Lisa Lo Cicero
as Executive No. 2
Wass Stevens
as Trader
Thomas James Foster
as Joe the Valet
Irene Roseen
as Mintz's Assistant
Ken Leung
as Deli Clerk
Mak Fai
as Grandfather at Deli
Maggi-Meg Reed
as Lady in Deli
Kate Walsh
as Jeannie
Ray Valentine
as Evelyn's Husband
Gianni Russo
as Nick
Tom McGowan
as Bill
Joel McKinnon Miller
as Tommy
Tanya Newbould
as Nick's Wife
Hilary Adahms
as Party Guest
Troy Hall
as Kenny
Mary Civiello
as CNBC Reporter
Paul Keith
as Suit Salesman
Elisabeth Sjoli
as Hostess
Philippe Bergeron
as Waiter
Christopher Breslin
as Restaurant Patron
Si Picker
as Tire Customer
Lisa Guzman
as Girl at Market
Robert Downey Sr.
as Man in House
P.J. Barry
as Limo Driver
Nina Barry
as Kate's Assistant
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Critic Reviews for The Family Man

All Critics (128) | Top Critics (33)

View All Critic Reviews (128)

Audience Reviews for The Family Man

Good storyline and a great film with Nicolas Cage making a great 'Family Man' character. A must see!

Bethany Murphy
Bethany Murphy

Super Reviewer

½

Corporate raider and hedonist playboy Nicolas Cage wakes up one morning to find himself living the life he would have led if he'd not chosen his career over an old girlfriend. In other words: 1 Cage wakes up surrounded by kids and associated mess 2 Runs around shocked by the fact that all his rich pals don't recognise him 3 Is horrified by nappies 4 Has a trademark Cage rant about how crappy his new life is 5 Finally learns "what's important" 6 Is dumped back in his old life, to his dismay 7 *Hallmark moment* CREDITS As you can see, The Family Man follows the formula of the feelgood holiday movie to the letter and will warm either your heart or your sick bucket depending on taste. As a film, I'd have to say it's too long and not particularly funny although Don Cheadle's all too brief appearance is reasonably enjoyable. I would have to point out that I doubt that anyone involved in producing this film has to clip coupons or shop at K Mart, so being told by a bunch of rich people that "money isn't everything" smacks of hypocrisy AT BEST. At least I got to see Tea Leoni dancing in the shower which almost makes up for the two hours I wasted watching this predictable pap.

xGary Xx
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

½

Seems to rarely look at the theme it claims to convey--that married life is preferable to being single. What it really does is contrast being wealthy to being middle-class, though the comparisons it makes mean little. While the final, quasi-climactic scene at last satisifies the wont for a wholly title-appropriate theme the film so lacks, it does so far too late and with little meaning as the ending neither satisfies nor leaves the viewer happy or optimistic. A decent film, still; Cage's and Leoni's chemistry is great and the screenplay isn't terrible. It's just completely off-message for the majority of the film.

Jay Hutchinson
Jay Hutchinson

Super Reviewer

Sort've an updated version of It's a Wondeful Life, so it's bound to make you get a little sentimental and vulnerable. The surprising thing about this is that it is really good. Nicolas Cage is very toned down to fit the bill of an average man. Don Cheadle and Tea Leoni also make for a great supporting cast. It's harmless and light-hearted, to make it out to be something more is just stupid. For what it is, The Family Man is great.

Conner Rainwater
Conner Rainwater

Super Reviewer

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