A heart warming story from Nicholas Cage and Bridget Fonda in "It could happen to you" (It Could Happen To You (DVD))

Member Name: Jcapulet

Product:	It Could Happen To You (DVD)
Date:	01/12/08 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots

Disadvantages: None - although Muriel will raise your blood pressure !!

This is one of those feel good movies, so if you love Mamma Mia or the likes of Muriel's Wedding then this kind of film may be for you. It's about how love conquers all and how poetic justice is served to those who deserve it.
The three main characters are Charlie Lang ( played by Nicolas Cage ) the local good-guy police officer who helps out the community and plays with the kids in the street, Muriel Land (played Rosie Perez ) the somewhat self-absorbed, ambitious (with regards to financial ambition, not career motivated !! ) and Yvonne Biasi ( played by Bridget Fonda ) the unlucky, caring waitress who meets Charlie at the diner she works in.
The film begins with Charlie buying a lottery ticket and Yvonne spending some time in court being declared bankrupt by a credit card company for debts run up by her ex husband. It's then that the two characters meet when Yvonne turns up late for work at the diner (albeit late for work and is docked some of her pay by her grumpy boss ) just as Charlie and his police officer partner turn up for a snack. However, they're called away and have to pay in a hurry and Charlie only has enough change for the bill but not the tip ( his partner has since left the diner to proceed to the incident ) and so he offers half of his lottery ticket as a form of tip.
That night Charlie wins the lottery and his ecstatic wife is less than pleased however when Charlie reveals that he promised half of the winnings to the waitress at the diner. However, as time goes on and Muriel realises just how much media coverage the generous act gains, she agrees to the promise and Yvonne is given half of their winnings. As time goes on Muriel spends most of her time shopping and refurnishing everywhere, becoming obsessed with the 'good life' and Charlie continues to do the job that he loves well, even putting his life at risk in the line of duty. Yvonne sees the return of her using ex husband and Charlie and Yvonne become closer as they prefer to use their new fortune for good, all the time being followed about by an undercover reporter who has been following their story since the win.
Just as Charlie and Yvonne are becoming closer, Muriel and Charlie are drifting further apart and a dinner night boat trip pretty much nails the hammer in their relationship coffin when Muriel meets an older, charming and rich gentleman called Jack who sweeps Muriel off her feet. Muriel throwns Charlie out of the house and seeks comfort in a luxury hotel, where he finds Yvonne who is escaping her ex husband staying at her flat. With the end of Charlie's marriage, Muriel takes back her agreement over splitting the lottery money and sues Charlie and Yvonne for their share of the lottery money and wins. Yvonne must give up her dream of purchasing the diner and Charlie goes back to work, which he is quite pleased about. Yvonne however runs from Charlie as she believes that she was his downfall in the whole situation and feels to blame for it all. Eventually, Charlie finds her at the diner where she is beginning to lock up and hand back the keys etc. Here they have a reunion and make a promise to stay together and make a go of it, perhaps moving away from it all. The undercover reporter ( dressed as a tramp ) knocks on the window asking for food and witnesses charity and goodness from two people who have nothing between them, Yvonne giving 'the tramp' food and Charlie giving 'the tramp' all he can in terms of money. Deeply touched, the reporter writes an article to highlight the cts of charity from two people during their time of despair and asks readers to donate money for them and return the favour. As Yvonne and Charlie turn up at the diner for one last look around, they find masses of post behind the door and realise that all these people donated money to them, enough for Yvonne to fulfill her dream of buying the diner and donating free meals for those who cannot afford it.
We then learn that Muriel and Jack married, but Jack cleared their joint account not long later and feld the country, leaving Muriel penniless, resulting in Muriel going back to work at the hairdresses and move back in with her Mum.

A great feel good film, really touching and sweet.

Summary: A lovely feel good film, recommended for anyone who loves a happy ending !!