Have you ever woken up wondering "What If?", "What if I hadn't taken that job?", "What if I hadn't split with my first true love?", "What if I had studied harder?" the possibilities are endless and is a very popular theme when it comes to movies. Probably the most famous "What If" movie has to be "It's a Wonderful Life", but one which like its famous predecessor revolves around the Christmas period is "The Family Man". Released in 2000 and starring Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni "The Family Man" is in many ways similar to "It's a Wonderful Life" but then adds its own twist on proceedings whilst updating the storyline to a modern setting, making it just different enough to not just be a remake.

Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage - 8mm) is a career-driven workaholic who has everything: a well paid job, a flashy car, a wardrobe of designer clothes and the attention of any woman he wishes. But his life changes when, after finishing work on Christmas Eve, he stops an argument in a convenience store and ends up in a conversation about life with the trouble maker Cash (Don Cheadle - Boogie Nights). When Jack wakes up the next day, he's suddenly living in a New Jersey suburb, where he's married to his college sweetheart Kate (Tea Leoni - Bad Boys) and is a father of two children, confusing or what?

So that is the basis of "The Family Man" and you wouldn't be wrong to be making comparisons between this and the classic "It's a Wonderful Life". "The Family Man" borrows heavily from its classic predecessor, but adds to it its own twist as it adapts it into a modern setting. "The Family Man" uses the classic "What If" scenario as the basis of the plot, but where as "It's a Wonderful Life" looks at what would have happened if the lead character hadn't been around "The Family Man" looks at it from what life would be like if he hadn't made a particular decision.

Although the storyline is not the most original, and has been reworked many times by various other movies, "The Family Man" does make a good stab at being an enjoyable and interesting movie. Most of this can be put down to the performances of Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni who both keep you entertained with subtle humour. But there are some wonderful sentimental scenes where Jack begins to understand that there is more to life other than making money and luxurious living. Talking of sentiment, "The Family Man" could easily have over cooked it, and become a mush fest of sentiment, but after a couple of close calls, it remained strong.

In the lead role of Jack Campbell is Nicolas Cage who goes through a complete change of persona through the movie. To start off with he is a brash, arrogant business man, who cares for nothing but work, but by the end of "The Family Man" he realizes that there is more to life than the almighty dollar. Cage is as usual very good, not only at providing much of the humour but also at demonstrating the fears and emotions of a man who is thrown into a completely different world.

Opposite Cage is Téa Leoni who plays Kate, the charming housewife. Not only does Leoni add beauty to "The Family Man" she also demonstrates a high quality of acting which easily matches Cage's performance. The pairing of Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni works well and although the chemistry between them is not always apparent, understandably seeing Jack is confused to why he is in this different life, there is a charm to their relationship especially as the movie progresses.

In supporting roles you have Don Cheadle as Cash the angry customer who somehow has managed to make this alternate reality happen and Jeremy Piven as Arnie, Jack's best friend in this new reality.

"The Family Man" is directed by Brett Ratner who has also directed the Rush Hour movies. Unfortunately, "The Family Man" was always going to be compared to "It's A Wonderful Life" and in my opinion, I feel that Ratner has done a good job of making a movie, which although will never be termed a classic, still stands up as an enjoyable movie of the moment. The soundtrack to "The Family Man" features a long list of songs, by numerous artists, but with is being set over the Christmas period there is a strong Christmassy theme running through them.

What this all boils down to is that although "The Family Man" may not become a classic in the same manner as "It's a Wonderful Life", it is a very good take on the "What If" question set against a modern back drop. There are all round good performances from its cast and it moves along at a reasonable pace. Fans of Cage will of course enjoy this, but it will also appeal to fans of easy to watch films with subtle comedy.