The Family Man

Jack's lavish, fast-paced lifestyle changes one Christmas night when he stumbles into a grocery store holdup and disarms the gunman. The next morning he wakes up in bed lying next to Kate, his college sweetheart he left in order to pursue his career, and to the horrifying discovery that his former life no longer exists. As he stumbles through this alternate suburban universe, Jack finds himself at a crossroad where he must choose between his high-power career and the woman he loves.

Critics were split down the middle on this holiday fantasy, with many finding it too eager to wring tears from its Capra-esque premise. The chemistry between Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni won over some skeptics, but the film's earnestness tips into sentimentality often enough to alienate more demanding viewers. Audiences responded more warmly than critics, suggesting the film works better as seasonal comfort viewing than as a piece of carefully crafted cinema.