Christmas movies come and go, but Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni remain timeless in this exquisite romantic drama

The number of holiday movies seems to double every year, but none remain as heartfelt and timeless as The family man
. The film's premise is simple and there are similarities to It's a wonderful life and A Christmas songbut there is an aching sense of loneliness and depth that permeates the film. The family man captured my heart when I first saw it, and watching it again recently only deepened my love for the film, which is sincere and unabashedly wears its heart on its sleeve. His lessons remain timely and Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni are perfect together.

The themes and execution of the family man story remain one of its biggest draws

The magic of The family man It’s in the details of its story, which stand out thanks to its simplicity. Screenwriters David Diamond and David Weismann give the film seriousness and treat it with the depth and sincerity it deserves. More than anything, The family Man takes its time exploring Jack Campbell's (Cage) new, alternative life, developing it to become more exuberant and real the longer Jack lives it. We can experience with him the surprises, the embarrassing moments and the strangeness of adapting to a life that is foreign to him.

This is a man who has never experienced so much love in his life, and accepting it is shocking, but it is the epitome of layered character growth. Cage is perfect at every step of Jack's journey, infusing certain moments with levity and a surprising sense of humor that signals the ridiculousness and discomfort he feels about being in a situation he didn't ask for. Yet even though his Jack has been married to Kate (Leoni) for 13 years, the film shows the romance as if we're watching it evolve and deepen along with Jack.

This is a story that values ​​unity and the strength of having a partner, while most films are still stuck in the cycle of putting off two people meeting until the end. The family man it works the other way around in terms of romance, but it never undermines the relationship that gives it its heart. The film is very anti-capitalism, something I can appreciate much more now that I'm an adult, but it also doesn't entirely try to sell us on the idea of ​​a perfect family life.

It doesn't paint Kate and Jack as paragons of virtue, nor does it ignore their obvious struggles. It crucially highlights the loneliness and emptiness of Jack's real life and juxtaposes it with a deeply connected and loving life full of family, friends and community. Jack may not have become a talented businessman with an endless amount of money to spend, but he is fulfilled in much more meaningful ways. The family man not only does it posit that a life full of love is worth it despite its hardships, but it also shows us the beauty of what that looks like at every turn.

It invests in this life and the characters which, in turn, deepens the story and its themes. It suggests that opening your heart to love and connection is the real risk worth taking. Jack has managed to stop feeling in his everyday life and that's the scariest part of The family man. Getting a glimpse of the life you could have had encourages you to feel again and not be afraid of emotions. Jack had to feel like he was actually missing something in the end to make him desperate enough to actually want to do something about it.

Dante Spinotti's photography makes a clear visual distinction between Jack's real life, all gray and static, and his fantasy, which is warmer and more homely. It invites us into Jack's fantasy world, while also reminding us that he is just as real in terms of feelings. It feels like a memory can be felt so often and is lyrical and visceral in equal measure, wrapping us in the comfort of family and Jack and Kate's love and cementing itself as an integral holiday classic that can be rewatched annually.

Family Man wouldn't be as good without Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni

Leoni and Cage make a memorable and moving on-screen duo. Leoni matches Cage's moments of incredulity and none of them exaggerate their reactions. Leoni is especially articulate in conveying Kate's disappointment in Jack – for forgetting her birthday, for running away at Christmas, or for trying to move the family to the city. Equally effective is Kate's determination and the never-ending love she feels for Jack despite these frustrations. The love in their eyes and actions speaks for itself and instantly made me believe in their romance. She really elevates the story with the layers she adds as Kate.

Cage may be charming, but aloof and cold like Jack. When necessary, he is also quite funny. His reactions to his new life are a mix of shock and word vomit that make him appear distraught, adding to the comedic effect. Crucially, Cage portrays Jack's developing acceptance and love for his alternative life with nuances that make us believe in his desire to stay. In the end, the sense of loss Jack feels is visceral. And it goes without saying, but I have to say: Cage and Leoni's chemistry is palpable. When they're on screen, I can't look away.

The Family Man Has One of the Best Airport Scenes of All Time

There are many famous movie scenes in airports, but The family man has one of the best (if not the better). Jack, having visited Kate in the real world, is now fed up with her life. Instead of heading to Aspen for a business venture, Jack goes to the airport and rushes to the gate to pick up Kate before her flight to Paris. She is confused by his actions, having walked away from the relationship despite being heartbroken, but Jack, still wrapped in memories of a life with Kate, is not willing to let the woman he loves slip away again.

Cage's speech is absolute perfection. He is sincere and it is this same sincerity and passionate desperation that makes Leoni's Kate stop in her tracks. The delivery and staging of the speech are enough to give me goosebumps every time I watch the film, and it only gets better with time. Jack keeps talking, growing quieter as Kate approaches him, and it's the kind of romantic, fantastical speech that is so often missing or unmemorable in modern romance novels. By the time Jack passes through the airport, he is ready to succumb to love. The discourse from then on is conquered.

The moment may not promise forever for the couple, but the fact that the film ends with Jack and Kate talking over coffee in an airport restaurant is both hopeful and touching. My heart was thawed and my eyes were wet with unshed tears – that's how touching it is The family manthe ending was. It's still so poignant even after 24 years, perhaps even more so now as the realities of adulthood and lifestyle force us to long for something a little simpler and time spent with loved ones.

I could go on and on about how they don't make movies like The family man more, but I digress. Regardless, the romantic drama has aged like fine wine. It's sentimental in every way and doesn't lose sight of its message. It's all better because the film takes its time with its story and characters and watching it again only made me fall in love with Jack and Kate all over again.