Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Popular TV weatherman David Spritz (Nicolas Cage, right) tries to help his son Mike (Nicholas Hoult) to stay out of trouble. - CONTRIBUTED
WITH THE exception of when we stay glued to the screen to find out about hurricanes or some other scary bit of weather, The Weather Man appears to be one of those necessary evils that we tolerate. They are subconsciously akin to the accountant. We assume they are boring because that is in large part the stereotype that we are fed.
Furthermore, we often don't believe what The Weather Man says, even when we watch religiously. This is in part what makes The Weather Man a delightful though somewhat brooding film, which resonates with humour, heart and insight. Starring Nicolas Cage as David Spritz, The Weather Man is directed by Gore Verbinski and written by Steve Conrad.
The Weather Man attempts to depict the unpredictability of life. It highlights that one simply has to accept life, like the weather, for what it is and prepare for rain because, who knows, it just might pour and all we can do is guess.
So, David Spritz is a weather man - not a meteorologist. Essentially, he spends his life telling people about the weather, and being well-paid to do it, though he himself does not understand it. That discrepancy begins to take its toll on him. Furthermore, his problems go well beyond bad weather predictions as his family begins to disintegrate. It also does not help that people find it particularly fun to toss fast food at him to show their disdain.
He once had the American family ideal, a wife, Noreen (Hope Davis), and two children: Michael (Nicholas Hoult) and Shelly (Gemmenne de la Peña). Alas, he is now divorced, and his children seem to be getting more distant and unhappy with each passing day. Rather than being helpless to stop it, he merely appears incompetent and a little too self-absorbed to do the right thing. Furthermore, he keeps attempting to make his father proud of him and fails miserably.
Once again, as in Lord of War, Cage acts as a protagonist/narrator, but that is where the similarities between the two films end. The politics of The Weather Man are far less overt, and are more concentrated about the personal space than international dealings. It is more about how individuals need to take charge of their own lives, rather than how big politics affects people's lives.
HILARIOUS FILM
Once again, Cage creates a totally enjoyable, though this time more likeable character. He captures the flawed nature of David Spritz beautifully, a man who is so reminiscent of the quintessential loser.
The film is hilarious, without pushing the comic effect. It simply plays on some of the great ironies and other quirky issues of life. The best thing about them, all the characters with the exception of Robert (Michael Caine), is that they are so absolutely ordinary. The cast delivers generally good performances that allow the characters to resonate as their various kinds of desperation are unveiled.
The Weather Man explores the elements of life which range from the thunder clouds to when it's fair to fine. It's a story about letting go of your illusions, accepting who you are, changing what you can, and the rest of it, like the weather you just live with it. This flick is very fine weather, without all that sunshine and happiness.
