The Family Man (2000)
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A wealthy executive finds himself suddenly thrust into a domestic life he once walked away from.
The story
In 2000, Jack, a wealthy Wall Street executive in New York City, encounters a mysterious man named Cash in a convenience store. After a brief interaction, Jack wakes up the next morning in a suburban New Jersey home with a woman named Kate and two children. He quickly discovers that his reality has shifted; he is no longer a wealthy executive but a tire salesman. As he struggles to adjust to this modest family life, he realizes it is the life he would have had if he had stayed in the U.S. instead of moving to London for his career.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2000, Jack, a wealthy Wall Street executive, experiences a reality shift after an encounter with a mysterious man named Cash. He wakes up in a suburban home with a woman named Kate and two children, discovering he is now a tire salesman. While initially frustrated by the loss of his wealth, Jack begins to enjoy his family life and succeeds at his new job. He eventually receives a job offer that would allow him to return to his previous lifestyle. However, after reflecting on his choices and the reality of his 'other' life, he realizes he loves his current family. He eventually finds himself back in his original life on Christmas Day. He then tracks down Kate, who is now an unmarried lawyer moving to Paris. He confesses that his time with her was a dream that felt real, and she eventually agrees to meet him for coffee.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 125
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brett Ratner
- Writers
- David Diamond · writer; David Weissman · writer
- Cast and characters
- Nicolas Cage · Jack; Téa Leoni · Kate; Don Cheadle; Saul Rubinek; Jeremy Piven
- Genres
- romantic; fantasy; comedy-drama
- Themes
- the nature of choices; the path not taken
- Tone and mood
- heartfelt; feel-good
- Premise and plot tags
- time-slip; alternate reality; holiday
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and was noted for its heart-rending and moral elements by some outlets.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 54% · scale: percentage · review count: 130; Metacritic · score: 42 · scale: 100 · review count: 28; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; Common Sense Media · score: 4 · scale: 5; Movieguide.org · score: 4 · scale: 4
- Awards and nominations
- Best Fantasy Film · Saturn Awards · Nominated; Best Actress · Saturn Awards · Won
- Production trivia
- The film was originally offered to director Curtis Hanson.; The production involved transforming neighborhoods into a winter wonderland.; The film was the first collaboration between Ratner and cinematographer Dante Spinotti.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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