The Weather Man (2005) Rated R Starring: Nicolas Cage, Hope Davis, and Michael Caine Rating: out of

He resents the attention his ersatz celebrity status gets him in public. It's usually in the form of fast food items being tossed at him from moving cars at the most inopportune moments or, at the very least, people harassing him about the weather forecast.

There's hope in the form of a job offer for Hello, America, a major network morning show based in New York City. Dave thinks that if he gets the job -- and its $1,000,000 a year salary -- he can take his father, wife, and kids with him and rededicate himself to his family. The problem is that he has to convice them that he's serious. He has to make an effort. The problem is that when he tries to make things right, they somehow get worse.

Nicolas Cage has done a lot of good character work and this is no exception. Unfortunately, the character isn't that interesting. I found it hard to sympathize with Dave Spritz and his problems. Sure, he's kind of scatter-brained and trying to find his place in life. He doesn't feel comfortable in his job. That much I can relate to. But he's not particularly likeable, no matter how hard he tries. When he tries to reach out to his overweight daughter, Shelly (Gemmenne De La Pena), he seems sweet and caring for a brief time before he loses his patience and blows the whole facade. We're supposed to care about his attempts to make amends with his family? He's a schmuck.

And before the "realism police" attack me for criticizing a character for being realistic and flawed, I'd just like to say that realistic and flawed doesn't have to mean repulsive and uninteresting. If I'm supposed to watch a character for an hour and forty minutes, I'd like to find him somewhat engaging. See About Schmidt as an example of a flawed character study that's interesting and engaging.

I didn't hate The Weather Man. I just didn't find it to be as good as I'd hoped. Consider me disappointed.

Trivia: The food that hits Cage throughout the film is thrown by director Gore Verbinski. (Source: The Internet Movie Database)