Written by Tim
August 02, 2010
Let’s see… Live the life of a corporate tycoon, or spend the rest of your life in suburbia with Téa Leoni? Le’me tell ya, that’s no easy decision. I would be hard pressed to sample a bit of both worlds before making that kind of choice. Um… Hello, Téa… would… uh… would you like to have coffee with me?
The Family Man runs on a very familiar story line. What would your life be like if you made different choices in life. It’s part It’s A Wonderful Life and part Sliding Doors. Jack Campbell (Nicholas Cage) is faced with finding out what his life would be like if he hadn’t taken a job in London and stayed with his girlfriend Kate (Téa Leoni), instead.
On one hand, if he went to London he would have started what would become a very successful business career that would bring him great wealth and respect. Along with the success, Jack would learn the real meaning of the phrase “It’s lonely at the top.”
On the other hand, if he stayed in The States, he would have been with the woman he loved and would’ve taken a position in her father’s tire store. This wouldn’t have been the life of his dreams, but it would be a life filled with friends and family.
The story takes place mostly in the second scenario where Jack has been thrust without warning. He wakes up on Christmas morning and all of a sudden he has a wife and kids. His former life is nowhere to be seen and he has no idea what to do in his current circumstance. You would imagine that hilarity would follow in such a situation, but in fact it turns out to be slightly typical in terms of character development and plot establishment.
There are parts that give a good chuckle and a parts that make you want to roll your eyes because it seems to voice the opinion that a modest suburban life is the less-optimum lifestyle. Some would say that the suburban lifestyle is the better choice and others who would rather have the city life.
I would say that this is a movie for a rainy day. Talk amongst yourselves.
