The Weather Man
2005
**
Director: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine, Hope Davis, Michael Rispoli, Gemmenne de la Peña, Nicholas Hoult, Gil Bellows
A Chicago TV weatherman finds himself in the doldrums. His work is well-paid but meaningless, his marriage is in ruins, and his teenage children have become strangers. Compare this to his own father who is a celebrated author and a dedicated family man. Gore Verbinski's dark comedy about a middle-aged man in an existential crisis gives us a few enjoyable comic moments but it's let down by a protagonist who is an irritating, over-privileged sadsack. We're meant to root for him but how can we when he aims to change the course of his life with the following three-step plan: 1) pursue the same menial job but quadruple the salary, 2) save the marriage by behaving like an idiot, 3) become a better parent through bribery and violence. Nicolas Cage plays the character with his familiar hangdog expression. Michael Caine is nicely understated as the father, even if his accent is totally untraceable.
