35-575: The Family Man is a 2000 American romantic fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Brett Ratner , from a screenplay by David Diamond and David Weissman . The film stars Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni , with Don Cheadle , Saul Rubinek , and Jeremy Piven in supporting roles. The Family Man was theatrically released in the United States on December 22, 2000, by Universal Pictures . The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $ 124.7 million worldwide against its $ 60 million budget. At
70-450: A Universal-based production company. The Universal first-look deal dissolved the company is Spring 2013, which marked the end of a 15-year tenure at the studio for Abraham, Bliss and Newman. Abraham and Newman said the partnership simply ran its course and that the parting is amicable. They will continue to work together on a projects they still have percolating under the Strike banner. Abraham
105-414: A community and a purpose larger than themselves. Magic and psychic abilities are often in-born talents; intelligent animals speak; and societies are egalitarian." In 2023 and 2024, romantic fantasy novels termed "romantasy" became a social media trend. Sales of the books have been widely driven by promotion on social media, particularly the part of TikTok known as BookTok . The Economist notes that
140-523: A heartfelt, feel-good holiday movie, just give in and enjoy." Matthew Turner from ViewLondon said: "Perfect feel-good Christmas-period family entertainment. Highly recommended." Common Sense Media rated it four out of five stars. Movieguide.org rates it four of four stars, noting " The Family Man is a heart-rending movie. Very well written, it makes you laugh and cry. Better yet, it’s an intentionally moral movie. It wants to prove that everyone needs love..." Emma Cochrane from Empire in 2015 wrote: "This
175-460: A lighthearted romantic comedy drama, as he had already done 8mm and Bringing out the Dead and also finished filming Gone in 60 Seconds , but after he saw Rush Hour with his father, he accepted the part of Jack Campbell as he was inspired to do so after seeing Ratner's enthusiasm for the project. With Cage and director Ratner in place, the filmmakers needed to cast the role of Kate Reynolds, which
210-413: A tire blowout fixed. Taking advantage of the chance meeting, Jack uses his business savvy to impress Lassiter, who invites Jack to his office, where Jack worked in his 'other' life. There, after a short interview, Lassiter offers him a position. While he is excited by the potential salary and other perks, it would involve moving to the city and Kate argues that they are very happy and should be thankful for
245-415: Is about to board her flight, he describes in detail their life together and their children, saying it was a dream that seemed real. Intrigued, she eventually agrees to go with him for a coffee. From a distance, they are seen talking inaudibly and laughing over their coffees. Producer Marc Abraham first became aware of the project when veteran producers Alan Riche , Tony Ludwig and Howard Rosenman brought
280-405: Is exactly the kind of adult fantasy you want to see at Christmas and, as such, it's highly enjoyable entertainment", and gave the film three stars out of five. Romantic fantasy Romantic fantasy or Romantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction combining fantasy and romance, describing a fantasy story using many of the elements and conventions of the chivalric romance genre. One of
315-434: Is in a convenience store when a young man, Cash, enters claiming to have a winning lottery ticket worth $ 238, but the store clerk refuses him, saying the ticket is a forgery. Cash pulls out a gun, and Jack, trying to defuse the situation, offers to buy the ticket, calling it a “business deal”. Cash eventually agrees. Outside, Jack patronizingly tries to help Cash, who, feeling like he is being preached to, asks Jack if anything
350-533: Is living the kind of life he might have had if he had stayed in the United States with Kate as she had asked. He has a modest family life, where he is a car tire salesman for Kate's father and she is a non-profit lawyer. Jack's young daughter, Annie, thinks he is an alien but a friendly one and assists him in fitting into his new life. With a few setbacks, he begins to succeed, bonding with his children, falling in love with Kate again and working hard at his job. Jack's former boss, chairman Peter Lassiter, comes in to have
385-467: Is missing from his own life. When Jack haplessly says he “has got everything”, Cash enigmatically remarks that Jack has brought upon himself what is now going to happen, and walks away. A puzzled Jack returns to his penthouse and sleeps. Jack wakes up next morning, Christmas Day, in a suburban New Jersey bedroom with Kate and two children. Confused, he rushes out to his condo and office in New York, but both
SECTION 10
#1732894328937420-538: Is strong enough to last, and he flies out. Thirteen years later, Jack is a bachelor living a carefree life as a Wall Street executive in New York City , with millions at his disposal. At work, he is putting together a multi-billion dollar merger and has ordered an emergency meeting on Christmas Day. In his office, on Christmas Eve, he gets a message to contact Kate, but, even though he remembers her, he dismisses it and does not return her call. On his way home, Jack
455-483: Is the market, and the novels are known for representing minorities. Marc Abraham Marc Abraham is an American film producer, director, and former president of Strike Entertainment , a production company he launched in early 2002 with a multi-year, first look arrangement with Universal Pictures . Abraham began his career as a copywriter for Young & Rubicam in New York City after graduating from
490-448: The 27th Saturn Awards , it was nominated for Best Fantasy Film and won Best Actress for Leoni. Jack and Kate, who have been together since college, are at JFK Airport , where he is about to leave to take up a twelve-month internship with Barclays in London. She fears the separation will be detrimental to their relationship and asks him not to go, but he reassures her, saying their love
525-662: The University of Virginia . He left advertising to pursue a full-time writing career and worked as a freelance sportswriter for several newspapers and magazines. He also wrote two books on the International Olympic Games for Universal Press . Abraham's entry into film began with the documentary, Playing to Win , an inside look at the Cuban athletic system. He wrote several screenplays for studios and networks including 20th Century Fox , Warner Bros. and CBS . He also wrote for
560-571: The 2014 film RoboCop under the Strike Entertainment name since it started production in 2012. Abraham directed, wrote and produced the 2015 Hank Williams biopic I Saw the Light , which starred Tom Hiddleston . It was based on Colin Escott 's 1994 book Hank Williams: The Biography . During its first few years, Beacon Communications produced award-winning films like The Commitments which
595-502: The North American box office making $ 15.1 million in its opening weekend, behind What Women Want and Cast Away , the latter of which opened at the top spot. After 15 weeks in release, the film grossed $ 75,793,305 in the US and Canada and $ 48,951,778 elsewhere, bringing the film's worldwide total to $ 124,745,083. The Family Man received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave
630-441: The best-selling series of books from Scholastic. Abraham and fellow producers Thomas Bliss and Eric Newman founded Strike Entertainment in 2002. They produced such films as Children of Men , The Rundown (2003), Slither (2006), Flash of Genius (2008), The Thing (2011), and RoboCop (2014) under Strike's production name. In March 2013, Abraham, Bliss and Newman dissolved Strike Entertainment after 11 years as
665-466: The big acquisition deal to find Kate who is moving out of a luxury townhouse before flying to Paris. After their parting, like him, she focused on her career and has become a very wealthy corporate lawyer. She had only called him to return a box of his old possessions, and when Jack asks her to meet for coffee, she suggests that he look her up if he's ever in Paris. Jack chases after her to the airport and, as she
700-433: The classic films I grew up watching, except it didn't end the way most movies end and that was exciting. I felt this one in my gut. I always follow my instincts and I realized this was something that I really had to do." Ratner was convinced that he was the right choice to direct the film and set his sights on convincing the producers, mostly Abraham. Abraham, however, wasn't sure about Ratner initially. Meanwhile, Hanson left
735-451: The doorman and his former coworker refuse his entrance and do not recognize him. Jack runs out into the street and encounters Cash now smartly dressed and driving Jack's Ferrari . Although Cash offers to explain what is happening, all he does is make a vague reference to "the organization" and tell Jack that he is getting "a glimpse" of something that will help him to figure out for himself what it's about. Jack slowly comes to realize that he
SECTION 20
#1732894328937770-569: The fantasy elements is most important and "fantasy romance" where the romance are most important. Others say that "the borderline between fantasy romance and romantic fantasy has essentially ceased to exist, or if it's still there, it's moving back and forth constantly". In his 2023 book Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground , RPG historian Stu Horvath noted, "the heroes and heroines of romantic fantasy seek social connection and emotional wealth. Instead of carrying on by themselves, they find belonging in
805-526: The film a score of 53% based on 130 reviews, with an average rating of 5.5/10. The site's consensus states: "Despite good performances by Cage and especially by Leoni, The Family Man is too predictable and derivative to add anything new to the Christmas genre. Also, it sinks under its sentimentality." Metacritic reports a 42 out of 100 rating based on 28 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Chris Gore from Film Threat said: "If you're looking for
840-421: The genre has particular appeal to those who grew up reading young-adult fantasy, such as Harry Potter , and are now interested in similar themes, but with adult themes of sex and romance. Key exponents are Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, whose Fourth Wing and Iron Flame have both broken sales records and are due to be made into a TV series. Authors of novels labeled as romantasy are largely women, as
875-433: The idea to him as a pitch. He was charmed by the uplifting and universal appeal of the premise, which was reminiscent of many of his favorite films of the 1930s and '40s. With a solid screenplay by David Diamond and David Weissman in hand, the filmmakers began to look for a director who could properly present the funny, poignant and somewhat quirky elements of the material while maintaining a tone of sincerity throughout. It
910-411: The key features of romantic fantasy involves the focus on relationships, social, political, and romantic. Romantic fantasy has been published by both fantasy lines and romance lines. As a result of the financial success of authors such as Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros , publishers have been creating imprints to focus on this subgenre. Some publishers distinguish between "romantic fantasy" where
945-460: The life they have. Having decided that he now likes this 'other' life, Jack again sees Cash, now a store clerk. He demands to stay in his 'new' life, but Cash tells him there is no choice: "a glimpse", by definition, is an impermanent thing. That night, Jack tries to stay awake, but fails and wakes the "next day", but again Christmas Day, to find himself in his original life. Jack forgoes closing
980-491: The movie tells the story of a small-time inventor who takes on the Detroit automakers. Also for Universal Pictures , Abraham is producing Trouble is My Business , an adaptation of Raymond Chandler 's detective-noir classic, starring Clive Owen . He produced the remake of The Thing for Strike Entertainment alongside Eric Newman. Even with the disestablishment of Strike Entertainment in 2013, Abraham and Newman still produced
1015-453: The neighborhoods into a winter wonderland to set the snowbound Christmas scene. Filming finished on March 14, 2000. The Family Man was the first collaboration between Ratner and Academy Award -nominated cinematographer Dante Spinotti . They later worked together on Red Dragon , After the Sunset , X-Men: The Last Stand , Tower Heist and Hercules . The Family Man opened at #3 at
1050-453: The popular series 21 Jump Street and Moonlighting . He was a founding partner, along with Armyan Bernstein , at Beacon Communications, a financing and production company founded in 1990. Abraham brought to the big screen Flash of Genius , released by Universal Pictures in Fall 2008, which marked his directorial debut and stars Greg Kinnear and Lauren Graham . Based on a true story,
1085-474: The project to direct Wonder Boys instead. According to Abraham, "It just didn't seem like his kind of film. But after getting to know him during the entire year he stalked me, I finally figured that maybe he was the right guy for the job. He brought something really original and vibrant to the material". Ratner was officially signed on as the director after the success of Rush Hour . Like director Ratner, star Nicolas Cage originally wasn't interested in doing
The Family Man - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-446: Was essential to everyone involved that the story not pass judgment on either of the two different lifestyles of Jack Campbell presented. " The Family Man is not about "good choice vs. bad choice" but rather about the nature of choices themselves" said co-writer Weissman. "The idea was about the path not taken." Before Brett Ratner signed on to the project, the film was originally offered to director Curtis Hanson , who accepted. Ratner
1155-434: Was in the middle of directing Rush Hour when his agent kept offering him scripts to consider directing. Ratner told his agent he was more interested in completing Rush Hour but near the end of the shoot for the film, his agent recommended that he read the script for The Family Man . Ratner originally wasn't interested in directing the film, but after he read the script, he immediately pursued it, saying "It reminded me of
1190-664: Was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy in 1992 and also went on to win four BAFTA awards; and Keith Gordon 's A Midnight Clear , starring Ethan Hawke . In a co-venture with Turner Pictures, Abraham executive produced David Mamet 's A Life in the Theatre . Beacon also produced Sugar Hill , starring Wesley Snipes ; Princess Caraboo , starring Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline ; The Road to Wellville , directed by Alan Parker and starring Anthony Hopkins ; and The Baby-Sitters Club , based on
1225-490: Was the most sought-after role for the film but a difficult one to cast. Both the filmmakers and Cage were impressed with Téa Leoni 's ability to convey the intricate subtleties of the role. Principal photography began on November 19, 1999, in Teaneck, New Jersey and Sleepy Hollow, New York , where fall foliage was still in evidence. Academy Award -winning special effects supervisor John Richardson , and his team had to transform
#936063