The Diva's "The Family Man" Review

(click here to skip to this movie's rating) The Family Man (2000) Viewed at Pacific Place Theater Rated PG-13; approximate running time of 125 minutes Directed by: Brett Ratner Written by: David Diamond & David Weissman Starring: Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, Jeremy Piven, Don Cheadle Genre: Comedy/Drama WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW. The Digest Jack Campbell has it all. He is President of a company that is on the verge of a 130 Billion-dollar deal, lives in a posh Manhattan apartment, drives a Ferrari and has women and his beck and call. Jack is so content that he doesn't think twice about throwing away the telephone number of his ex-girlfriend, Kate (Téa Leoni), the woman who was the love of his life. They haven't spoken in 13 years, so why should they now? Besides, all is right with the world. Well his world, anyway. All that changes when Jack gets a craving for Egg Nog. Jack walks into a corner liquor store to buy some egg nog, while he is in the back getting it, he hears a commotion. Another customer is attempting to cash in a lotto ticket and the clerk won't take it. The clerk believes that the customer is trying to run a scam. The situation gets heated and the customer pulls out a gun. Jack steps in and diffuses the situation. Jack's solution means that he must leave with the customer. Jack gets the customer outside and learns that his name is Cash. He immediately begins intervention on Cash (Don Cheadle). He tells Cash that whatever the problem is, that crime won't solve it. Cash tells him that he doesn't need any help, to which Jack replies, "everyone needs something". Cash asks Jack what he needs and Jack tells him he has everything and needs nothing. Cash then tells Jack that whatever happens to him, he brought it on himself. A puzzled Jack goes home and falls asleep. Jack wakes up bright and early the next morning and finds himself in a bed that isn't his and Kate sleeping next to him. In the distance he can hear screaming kids and a dog barking. Jack is getting a "glimpse". A look at his life had he not left Kate 13 years ago. He can't go back to his normal life until he figures out what he needs. Does he choose love and family or a high powered career? The Dish YAWN. Okay we've all seen, "It's a Wonderful Life". If you are child of the 80's like me, you've had the opportunity to see it at least 3 times a year - every year. There was ZERO chemistry between Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni. I mean ZERO. That made watching it all the more painful. That is probably why I was so bored. They did nothing for me. On the other hand, young actress Makenzie Vega sparkled as the daughter, Annie. Her interaction with Nicholas was wonderful and accounted for the best parts of the movie. And I had a BIG problem with Don Cheadle's character. Did they need to make him a thug? Couldn't he have accomplished what he needed to over a business dinner? Two colleagues discussing their lives over dinner maybe? They could even have met at a health club. If the point was to see what he would do in a life-threatening situation, why not stage a car accident. If Cash can create a "glimpse", surely he can cause a potentially fatal car accident. The Directive Catch the matinee At times, I wish I had fallen asleep and woke up elsewhere. back to top Copyright Kamal "The Diva" Larsuel-Ulbricht, 2000 EMAIL: thediva@3blackchicks.com ICQ: 8690410 http://www.3blackchicks.com/ Use the feedback form below to send your comments to The Diva