Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The Family Man’: Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni Bring It on Home

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe Nicolas Cage’s personal life as eccentric. Married five times, he was once part of the extended Arquette acting family, Elvis Presley’s son-in-law, and he has a son (Kal-El) who shares his birth name with Superman. He once owned the 16th-century Schloss Neidstein Castle in Bavaria and the 18th-century Midford Castle in Somerset, England. His problems with the I.R.S. are that of legend, and he has been arrested for D.U.I. and domestic battery. On the flipside, he’s given millions to multiple charitable groups and twice was appointed the United Nations Ambassador for Global Justice.

Nicolas Cage stars in "The Family Man." Beacon Pictures

For the entirety of his professional career, Cage has alternated between artsy naval-gazing films and more lucrative mainstream fare. Some theorize that he does those in the latter category to offset the low paychecks that usually accompany the former. While certainly not his biggest box office success (that would be “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”), “The Family Man” is probably the only movie in which Cage has appeared that you, your parents, and their (teen) grandchildren can all watch and enjoy at the same time.

I’ll be Back or, Maybe Not

Like so many unmarried couples before and since, Jack (Cage) and Kate (Téa Leoni) are about to test their love at an airport when he assures her that his apprenticeship in London is only temporary. He’ll return to New York, and they will start their family. Over a decade later, we see Jack living the good life in a Manhattan high-rise and making scads of money working as a Wall Street “mergers and acquisitions” executive. He’s happily single and is always in the company of gorgeous women.

In one of the many scenes modeled after “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Heaven Can Wait,” Jack crosses paths with the mysterious and ominous Cash (Don Cheadle) on Christmas Eve, who tells him his life is going to change in a major way. The next morning Jack wakes up in modest single family home in the New Jersey suburbs. He and Kate are married, have two small children, and have reached the point in life where the “sizzle” has been replaced with “warmed-over.” He works at a tire store and soon discovers that his neighbor Arnie (Jeremy Piven) is also his best friend, and they have no secrets between them.

Nicolas Cage (L) and Don Cheadle in "The Family Man." Beacon Pictures

As one might guess, Jack is beside himself with confusion and anger, conditions which only increase when he tries to get into his apartment and is denied entry. He has a second encounter with Cash, who is even more cryptic and vague. Down but not out, Jack returns to New Jersey and gets with the new program, somewhat, while developing a strategy which will return him to his “real” life.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Containing far more grit, detail, and nuance than average Christmas offerings, the success and eventual longevity of the movie owes a great deal to screenwriters David Diamond and David Weissman who, like Ratner, never worked in this genre before or since. Perhaps their greatest achievement is with the character of Annie (Makenzie Vega), Jack’s daughter who is wise beyond her single-digit years. It is Annie who is the first to figure out that this “Jack” isn’t the father she knows and believes him to be an alien but is OK with it as long as he doesn’t “put things” into her and her little brother’s brains.

In what is a “typical” Cage role, he carefully balances detachment, befuddlement, enthusiasm, intensity, fear, joy, and physicality all with a droll, laconic delivery. As Cage is in nearly every scene, the weight of carrying the film rests squarely on his shoulders and he succeeds admirably but not without significant help from the dream supporting cast and, in particular, Leoni.

Leoni Leads It to the Finish Line

After cutting her comedic chops in the TV shows “Flying Blind” and “The Naked Truth,” Leoni parlayed her winning turns in “Bad Boys” and “Deep Impact” into her first leading-lady feature role opposite Cage. Stunning by anyone’s standards and eminently approachable, Leoni makes up for her somewhat limited range with her relaxed, frequently deadpan approach and breezy demeanor. Unlike Annie, Kate doesn’t believe Jack to be an alien, but rather a man who is going through a rough patch and is probably in the early throws of a mid-life crisis. Thus, she remains patient and understanding, but only up to a point.

Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni star in the "The Family Man." Beacon Pictures

After an evening of child-free attempted “amore,” it slowly dawns on Jack that Kate might be everything he could ever possibly want. However, he still has to battle with more than a few temptations, and he hasn’t seen the last of Cash.

Appearing to be heading towards an altogether expected and predictable ending, the screenwriters take a big chance by throwing the audience a huge, honking curve ball that might come as a letdown to some but for others looking for something completely different, it is welcomingly refreshing and original.

Coming off the roaring success of “Rush Hour,” Brett Ratner was tentative about directing this movie and his hesitancy cost him the gig. After reading the script, Ratner begged the producers to fire the now-onboard Curtis Hanson, which they did. The only non-action movie on Ratner’s resume, “The Family Man” turned out to be a perfect fit for all involved.

Succeeding on so many levels, “The Family Man” proves it is indeed entirely possible to make a crowd-pleasing, highly commercial romantic movie with teeth which respects the audience’s intelligence and doesn’t spoon-feed them the same old predictable, recycled mish-mash.

‘The Family Man’ Director: Brett Ratner Stars: Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, Makenzie Vega Running Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Release Date: Dec. 22, 2000 Rating: 4 out of 5