Though set at present, It Could Happen to You, another schmaltzy romantic comedy, might as well have been set in the 1950s, or even the 1930s, because at heart it’s a Frank Capra film of the Depression era, celebrating the decency and honesty of the “little people.”
Grade: B- (** 1/2* out of *****)
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Theatrical release poster
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Originally titled “A Cop Gives a Waitress a Two Million Dollar Tip,” it’s the saccharinic story of a decent New York cop named Charlie (Nicolas Cage) who one day, short of money for a tip, promises a waitress named Yvonne (Bridget Fonda) half the earnings from his N.Y. state lottery ticket.
Charlie doesn’t even dream about winning, least of all about the reaction of his greedy, upwardly-mobile wife, Muriel (Rosie Perez in a bad performance), in case that he does win.
Director Andrew Bergman (Honeymoon in Vegas) was trying to make a romantic comedy a la Sleepless in Seattle–centering his movie on two blue-collar stiffs who sort of fatefully belong to each other.
But except for the proficient acting of Cage and Fonda, the new movie lacks either the charm of a good romance or the edge of a biting satire. With its draggy pace, the picture is awkward and in moments even dull.
In the cntrived happy ending, Charlie returns to the police force, while Yvonne reclaims the diner. They get married and, for their honeymoon, enjoy a hot-air balloon-ride over Central Park.
Isaac Hayes is the film’s narrator and also plays a supporting role as Angel Dupree.
What this comedy, which is inspired by a true story, sorely needs is energy, a wittier dialogue, funnier one-liners.
On the mplus side are the impressive production values, particularly Caleb Deschanel’s cinematography of the Big Apple.
Greeted with mixed reviews, tjhe comedy was moderately popular at the box office, earning close to $50 million on a hudget of $20 million, most of which generated in the U.S.).
Cast
Nicolas Cage as Charlie Lang
Bridget Fonda as Yvonne Biasi
Rosie Perez as Muriel Lang
Wendell Pierce as Bo Williams
Isaac Hayes as Angel Dupree
Seymour Cassel as Jack Gross
Stanley Tucci as Eddie Biasi
Richard Jenkins as C. Vernon Hale
Red Buttons as Walter Zakuto
Victor Rojas as Jesu
J. E. Freeman as Sal Bontempo
Charles Busch as Timmy
Credits:
Directed by Andrew Bergman
Written by Jane Anderson
Produced by Mike Lobell
Cinematography Caleb Deschanel
Edited by Barry Malkin
Music by Carter Burwell
Distributed by TriStar Pictures
Release date: July 29, 1994
Running time: 101 minutes
Budget $20 million
Box office $47.7 million
