History Film / TheFamilyMan

* GodWasMyCopilot: It's implied that Cash is some sort of GuardianAngel, though he never says so outright. He throws Jack into an AlternateUniverse so he can get a glimpse of the life he might have had if he had made different choices. It seems like he was initially going to offer a similar glimpse to the AsianStoreOwner, but he blew his shot before Jack intervened.

* MarriedToTheJob: In Jack's original life, he didn't really have anything outside of his job as a high-level Wall Street executive. He even spends Christmas night alone because he [[LonelyAtTheTop doesn't have anywhere to go]]. His boss plays this straight too, though he proudly claims that it's because [[CardCarryingJerkass he's simply a heartless bastard]].

* MarriedToTheJob: In Jack's original life, he didn't really have anything outside of his job as a high-level Wall Street executive. He even spends Christmas night alone because he [[LonelyAtTheTop doesn't have anywhere to go]]. His boss plays this straight too, though he proudly claims that it's because he's simply a heartless bastard.

* ForWantOfANail: The entire meaning of Jack's alternate life, or ''glimpse''. What if he stayed with his girlfriend Kate in the United States rather than travel to London to jumpstart his career in finance?

Similar to ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', both in its story and thematic elements and its holiday setting, the film received mixed critical reviews but was a box-office success.

Cage plays Jack Campbell, a wealthy, high-powered Wall Street broker who, after getting--and dismissing--a phone message from his old college girlfriend Kate (Leoni) on Christmas Eve, ponders [[WhatCouldHaveBeen what might have been]]. He then has a fateful encounter with a young stranger named Cash (Cheadle), who asks Jack if there's anything missing in his life and--being answered in the negative--magically sends him to an AlternateUniverse in which he and Kate got married, had kids and settled down into a lower-middle-class existence in (horrors!) [[{{Joisey}} New Jersey]]. By the end, Jack learns that living a [[HappilyEverAfter quiet but happy family life]] may be preferable to achieving [[LonelyAtTheTop success and wealth at work]].

''The Family Man'' is a 2000 fantasy comedy-drama film, directed by Creator/BrettRatner and starring Creator/NicolasCage, Creator/TeaLeoni, and Creator/DonCheadle.

Cage plays Jack Campbell, a wealthy, high-powered Wall Street broker who, after getting--and dismissing--a phone message from his old college girlfriend Kate (Leoni) on Christmas Eve, ponders [[WhatCouldHaveBeen what might have been]]. He then has a fateful encounter with a young stranger named Cash (Cheadle), who asks Jack if there's anything missing in his life and--being answered in the negative--magically sends him to an AlternateUniverse in which he and Kate got married, had kids and settled down into a lower-middle-class existence in (horrors!) New Jersey. By the end, Jack learns that living a [[HappilyEverAfter quiet but happy family life]] may be preferable to achieving [[LonelyAtTheTop success and wealth at work]].

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_family_man_815.jpg]]

''The Family Man'' is a 2000 film directed by Creator/BrettRatner and starring Creator/NicolasCage, Creator/TeaLeoni and Creator/DonCheadle in which Cage plays Jack Campbell, a wealthy Wall Street executive who hears from his old college girlfriend and wonders [[WhatCouldHaveBeen what might have been]]. He has a fateful meeting with a man who magically sends him to an AlternateUniverse where he married his college girlfriend.

The film is similar to ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' because it starts on Christmas Eve. Moreover, by the end, Jack learns that living a quiet [[HappilyEverAfter happy family life]] is preferable to achieving [[LonelyAtTheTop success and wealth at work]].

* OverTheTopChristmasDecorations: At Evelyn's house.

* RaceForYourLove

* SassySecretary: Adelle, Jack's snarky assistant.
* TheScrooge: Jack Campbell, before he got better.

** Jack, during performances of "La donna è mobile" (complete with AirGuitar) and "La La La Means I Love You."
** Kate, while singing "Beast of Burden."

** Kate also has this attitude in Jack's glimpse: She opposes Jack's pursuit of a finance job in New York from the very beginning and will not hear of leaving behind their comfortable, if dull, suburban life. [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy She does agree to try it after that, but Jack decides to let them keep the life she prefers instead]].

* MagicalNegro: Cash is the black man who sends Jack to a WhatIf universe to show him what his life might have been if he had taken different choices. It's never stated, though implied, that he's Jack's guardian angel.

* SmugSnake: The alternate version of Alan Mintz.

* WholePlotReference: The Christian movie "What If..." follows this plotline almost exactly, except the lead male--who is engaged to another woman before he has his glimpse--gave up his faith in addition to the life he could have had with his ex.

* WhatTheHellHero: Jack gets one from his alternate-universe buddy Arnie when Jack [[YourCheatingHeart wants to have a fling]] with another woman coming onto him (Jack thinks this is OK because this isn't his life, so Kate isn't really his wife). Arnie reminds him how much all of his friends are envious that Jack is happily married to someone like Kate and that he shouldn't "[[PrecisionFStrike fuck up]]" the best thing to ever happen to him.

''The Family Man'' is a 2000 film directed by Creator/BrettRatner and starring Creator/NicolasCage, Tea Leoni and Don Cheadle in which Cage plays Jack Campbell, a wealthy Wall Street executive who hears from his old college girlfriend and wonders [[WhatCouldHaveBeen what might have been]]. He has a fateful meeting with a man who magically sends him to an AlternateUniverse where he married his college girlfriend.

* DrinkOrder: Jack orders [[WineIsClassy an $800 bottle of Chateau Lafite]] for his and Kate's anniversary. After Kate balks at the price, he changes his order to the house red by the glass.

* MagicalNegro: Cash is the black man who sends Jack to a WhatIf universe to show him what his life might have been if he had taken different choices. It's never stated, though implied, that he's a Jack's guardian angel.

* AmbitionIsEvil: At the outset, Kate worries that her and Jack's relationship will be irreparably hurt if he takes a one-year banking internship. He tries to convince her that this is good for both of them, and he will never stop loving her. Since they clearly broke up at some point that year, and both of them went on to be wealthy, childless singletons, Kate was in the movie's moral right all along.

--->All right, look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was such a ''saint'' before and I'm such a '''''PRICK''''' now! But maybe I'm just not the ''same guy'' that I was when we got married!

** Not a dilemma at all for P.K. Lassiter, who happily chooses his career every time and only seems to have affection for his horses.

* GrandeDame: Mrs. Peterson, Jack's fur-coated, puppy-carrying neighbor.