Clinton Yuen This is a comedy/drama about an alternate reality. Some of us have probably wondered how life might have been had we made one decision over another. So is the case of Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) an egotistical, arrogant New York corporate investment deal-maker who is assigned to Europe for a year, leaving his college sweetheart Kate (Tea Leoni) behind. Kate's final appeal to him to stay back and be with her is declined. Jack awakens the following morning, not in his hotel room in Europe, but to a fast-forwarded version of what life (15 years later) would have been like to listened to Kate. Cash (Don Cheadle) is his guardian angel. This life is one of an average 9-5 salary family man living in the New Jersey suburbs married to Kate with a baby boy, and elementary school aged daughter. Jack distresses over this change. He dislikes living on budget, his low paying job as a tire salesman, and abhors the responsibilities of being a dad. After a few weeks, however, Jack begins to enjoy this life, Cash shows up again to return him to his original starting point. Jack falls asleep that night and awakens to his original life. Having seen a version of how life would have played out with Kate, he is now determined to have her.

Mike Naughton This is one of the movies I watch at Christmastime. This year I seemed to get it more. And I thought Nick Cage did a great job. I am glad we have Tea Leoni on film in a good movie. She makes one understand the word wife in a more attractive physical way than we usually get in a movie. There were several moments that I considered writing about. Don Cheadle made his character completely real, a necessary task in this kind of movie. (When one wants a powerful and true performance of a character who can do better than Morgan Freeman, Don Cheadle and Denzil Washington. I guess we live in a time when such a statement is thought to come from some personal agenda. It doesn't; this just seemed like a obvious thought last night as I watched Don Cheadle. Anyway...)Annie (the daughter) is crucial to the accepting of the basic "replacement daddy" plot. And she makes it work.I think watching this movie is the only way to get what the performers and creators achieved. Might do it again tonight. (BTW: The commentaries are very good; however the Director commentary needed the movie volume raised whenever commentators weren't discussing.)

dontsueme This movie depicts a man who has it all. A high paying job, an amazing apartment, an amazing car, and the opportunity to sleep with any woman he pleases. What if....after an angel shows him what his life would've been if he made one last minute snap decision that would change it all. what if he could have the other end of the "American dream". Jack Campbell must go through the journey of finding out that there is more to life than making money. Personally I HATED it. Instead of Jack making the best of the situation he goes into a hole of self loathing, and the loathing of all those around him. He blames everything wrong in his life on his wife. He does finally "enjoy himself" only to be thrust back into his old life....pretty pointless right? I mean Why him? and what is he supposed to do? chase after the one that got away? procreate the children that wont exist anyway? He fell in love with the life in his "glimpse" and wont love the one he can create. Nice way to make a person who is happy miserable, then happy and then even more miserable...then when they realize it is far too late probably suicidal... Merry Christmas Jack Campbell I hope you enjoyed the ride.

juneebuggy One of my guilty favourite movies that always sucks me right in. Cage plays a rich, ruthless business man who is shown the life he might have led (by guardian angel Don Cheadle )if he'd made a different choice. In A Wonderful Life kind of way he wakes up in suburbia with a mini van, bad suits and a couple of kids, but he also has true love with ex-girlfriend (Tea Leoni).I love the relationship here between Jack and his daughter -its so sweet, she sees through him and thinks he's an alien that's replaced her father.Cage is, Cage but this was made back before he stopped caring so he has some great moments. Leoni makes me smile in every one of her scenes, she's so genuine and happy and goofy amidst the chaos of their life. One of those warm-fuzzy movies. 12.24.13