The Weather Man (2005)

Perfectly adorable

Best movie of this year hands down!

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

The Weather Man is a film that plays better as a parallel to how Nicolas Cage is viewed in real life than it does as a feature film. That's not to say that the film isn't well made, I just don't think it has a lot to say, especially as it holds up over a decade later.Not many people like Cage anymore. After being an acclaimed award winning actor in the 90's, he fell off in popularity after making questionable career choices time after time. I've never had any reason not to like him, but I've also never been blown away by any of his performances (not including Leaving Las Vegas which I haven't seen). Cage plays David Spritz, a Chicago weather man who is liked by no one and seems to have everything go wrong with his life. Within the first 15 minutes, I found myself cringing at the way he lived his life. Buying a coffee instead of a newspaper for his father, letting his young daughter walk home by herself, and even throwing a snowball at his ex-wife in order to keep her attention? Not exactly the most productive way to gain people's admiration.The Weather Man is about as bland as you think a real weather man's daily life would be, and the film plays off those stereotypes. But it's difficult to ever get behind a character that can't figure out his priorities in life when he only works a few hours a day, gets paid over 200 thousand dollars a year, and lives in the greatest city in the world. Now, I understand that it just uses the occupation as a backdrop for a story about a man who has nothing go right in his life. The problem is, the number one thing that I look for in a movie is if I can get behind the characters and root for them. If I'm being honest, I was finding some enjoyment in just how poorly this man's day was going. I think if Spritz didn't make everything about himself, I could have shown some more compassion.The performances are fine, including supporting turns from Michael Caine, Hope Davis, and a young Nicholas Hoult, but they're nothing spectacular. There are several unnecessary scenes, including one really awkward scene with a sexual predator. It's built around Cage's performance and it's not exactly one that carries much weight. The best thing I can say is that there isn't a ton to dislike, but there's much to like either.+Semi-interesting look into a weather man's life-Bland-Truly cringe worthy moments5.3/10

I got this film second hand in a charity shop and thought I'd give it a go. A comedy to brighten your day sounded great. Sat down to watch it with my partner and a friend; part way through my friend turned and asked "Is it funny yet?".An hour in to the film we'd laughed once. Just once. On top of that it was deeply depressing, full of unlovable characters and Michael Caine doing an American accent so awful only Jason Statham has done worse.The marriage was horrible, Gil Bellows' character was foul and you knew almost immediately what was going to happen with him and the son; Cage's character is tragic; his daughter is sad and the camel toe jokes horribly misplaced (I wasn't offended, just appalled); the name calling between Cage and his wife's lover school ground stuff and pathetic.So we switched it off and watched Naked Gun to cheer us up.If this is comedy I'd never want to see a funny film again.Just dreadful. Unbelievably awful. Avoid.

Dave Spritz (Nicolas Cage) is a local Chicago weatherman and people who don't like his forecasts throw stuff at him sometimes. His highly regarded successful writer father Robert Spritzel (Michael Caine) is disappointed in him and is diagnosed with lymphoma. Dave is estranged from his wife Noreen (Hope Davis). He is looking to get a more prestigious job in NYC. He's not connecting with his kids. His son Mike (Nicholas Hoult) is getting creep on by his counselor Don Bowden (Gil Bellows). His daughter Shelly is chubby and abandons her archery. He decides to take up her bow and arrow for himself.The humor is dark and dry. The monotone and the bluish hue keeps everything down. He is so suppressed as a character that I don't really buy him as a weatherman. It has just enough dark quirkiness. It's a depressed comedy with a chance of afternoon humor break.

I am pretty sure when "The Weather Man" debuted, there were a lot of confused reactions among the theater patrons. After all, it's nothing like a typical Hollywood or Nicholas Cage movie. In fact, it's the sort of thing many would probably avoid! Now I am not saying it's a bad film...it's just not the sort of thing that would have a wide following. Looking at the gross for this film, it's pretty obvious the film came and went very quickly.The film is about a man who exists. He should be happy, but he isn't and his life is a mess. This weather man from TV (Cage) makes good money, but his ex-wife hates him, his son has a drug problem and his daughter seems lost. Throughout all this, Cage WAY underplays his part--staring a lot and looking very vacant. The music and colors in the film further accentuate that. He obviously feels alienated and it only gets worse as the film progresses--with his father (Michael Caine) being diagnosed with cancer and MANY other problems arising. Yet, oddly, at the same time, his job is going very well. But what's it all for? Sure he makes money and is on TV but he also seems headed for a breakdown--and he has had enough. And, the film sure keeps you guessing as to where it will all end.This film reminds me of Cage's "Leaving Las Vegas". It, too, is NOT a film for everyone. Seeing his character drink himself to death in all its vivid glory is hard for most folks to endure. And, after seeing it, I am not even sure if I liked "The Weather Man"--as, in a way, he plays a guy who is slowly killing himself. I respect this risk but just thought the film (and his performance) needed more life. Difficult to watch, that's for sure, and its very, very frank language (I sure heard a few interesting words I haven't heard in a long time in this one) will no doubt also alienate many. All in all, I just don't know what to make of this film--and, after almost 13,000 reviews, that's a first! I am sure it's about alienation in modern life and how empty life can be in the western world...odd topics for a corporately produced film stuffed with McDonald's product placement.Very existential and confusing...like real life.