The Family Man - What If.... (The Family Man (DVD))

Member Name: dyllymoo

Product:	The Family Man (DVD)
Date:	06/11/08 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great story, brilliant acting

Disadvantages: None

**The Plot**

Jack Campbell (Nicholas Cage) is a very successful and talented businessman, who is as single as they come, and enjoying every moment of it. Jack has everything he has ever wanted, a fantastic apartment, a flashy car, expensive suits. Or does he have everything? Jack receives a telephone message from an ex girlfriend called Kate Reynolds who he hasn't spoken to for 13 years, but he doesn't do anything about it.

One Christmas Eve Jack has a run in with someone called Cash and the next morning, Christmas morning no less, Jack finds himself in what he would describe as a living hell. He finds himself married to his ex girlfriend Kate (Tea Leoni), he lives in Jersey and has two children. Jack cant quite believe what has happened and desperately wants his old "perfect" life back.

Jack has to go to work at his father in laws tire shop, and look after the children, but all he really wants to do is wake up! As Jack becomes more attached to his new family, he starts to realize that his old life was very lonely, and whilst he did have a lot of money and a fantastic apartment and car, he didn't have what he always wanted, a family.

Just as Jack comes to realize this, it is ripped away from him when he wakes up on Christmas morning in his old apartment, back in his old life. What will Jack do? Is it too late to try and find that happiness he felt when he was living with his "family"?

**My View**

I really like Nicholas Cage, there just seems to be something about him in all of his films that draws me to him. He never really plays the same character either, I mean this role couldn't be more different from Gone in 60 Seconds of National Treasure.

The whole story is brilliant, and Cage is fantastic especially when he finds himself in the life he never wanted, with the children. One of the most heart warming moments for me was when his little girl knows that he isn't really her dad, and asks him if he is an alien. It is just so sweet, and so well written.

With the obvious funny moments that happen in the film, there is obviously the message that whilst money is great, it isn't everything. It is also about second chances in life, which really makes you think.

I was actually quite surprised at the ending of the film. When he wakes up in his old apartment I did feel really sad as his life with his wife and children was lovely, and he really started to enjoy it and love it all. But it was all redeemed when he made the decision to grasp at that second chance. This film seems extra special as it is set at Christmas and that just gives it a slightly more magical feel, and also is a fantastic time to think about family.

Summary: Feel good christmassy comedy.