THE WEATHER MAN

The Weather Man is a 2005 dramatic picture with gloomy comedic moments, directed by Gore Verbinski. Written by Steve Conrad, it casts Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and Hope Davis and tells the account of a weatherman on a Chicago news program, who is a failure outside his career.

A flourishing weatherman at a Chicago news program, David Spritz is finely paid but discovers his occupation requires little more than speaking and pointing. He thinks most people like him only because he's on TV. For various reason, people occasionally throw fast food at him as they drive by. Recently separated, his wife, Noreen, has guardianship of their two kids. Dave is candidly aggressive to her new boyfriend, Russ.

Dave's 12-year-old daughter, Shelly, is a stout smoker, bullied by her classmates. Dave caters to his daughter's interest in activities even though she immediately drops them; archery for example. Dave's 15-year-old son, Mike, is befriended by his therapist, Don, an too liberal single man whose concern in Mike is disturbing.
Dave is inhibited by his extremely booming father, Robert Spritzel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Robert is concerned with Dave's apparent incapability to grow up and deal with his children, while Dave is concerned to convert himself in his father's eyes. Robert is diagnosed with lymphoma and although given only a few months to live, he remains dignified.

Dave pursues a weatherman position with the national "Hello America" show. The work would nearly quadruple his salary, but means relocating to New York City. He sees this work as a chance to prove himself to his father and probably reconcile with his wife.Dave attempts to reconnect with Noreen by attending group therapy. He stupidly ruins the effort by betraying Noreen's trust and initiates an intense fight.

As he becomes more and more unnerved, Dave takes up archery, finding the activity a means to build his focus and soothe his mental strain."Hello America" invites Dave to New York. He brings Shelly so he can talk to her. He skirts the subject by buying her a wardrobe of garments and skirts. Dave's father also tours to NY to see a specialist. Dave learns that, his son assaulted his counselor. Robert claims that the therapist wanted to do oral sex on Mike. Depressed over this and his father's expected death, Dave stays up all night drinking, despite the "Hello America" interview the next morning. Amazingly, all goes finely and he impresses his interviewers.

Dave returns to Chicago to find Noreen's boyfriend dealing with the Mike situation. Astonishingly, Dave strikes Russ with his gloves in front of Noreen and Robert, who are shocked. Dave later confronts the therapist at his home and attacks him in a angry mood. Dave is offered the "Hello America" work. He is reluctant because it means being away from Noreen and the kids.
The family holds a living funeral for Robert. Dave asks Noreen to patch up and move to New York but she has determined to marry Russ. To soothe his worry, he practices archery on the lawn. When Russ steps out, Dave draws the arrow on him and holds it, preparing to shoot. Russ, unnerved, goes back inside.When Dave starts his formal speech to his father the power goes out. He starts crying telling his father that he was offered the work, but that his wife will tie knot with Russ. Robert consoles him by saying that not all in life goes as we'd like, and that he is satisfied with his son for being able to land the "Hello America" position and also for Dave's protection of his son.

Robert accepted to reading Dave's, admittedly poor, try at a novel. Robert explains that it takes years to be a good author and Dave spent all those years learning to be a good weatherman and that's an triumph, mainly highlighting his son's triumph in landing such a well-paid position. Eventually, Robert has a real funeral and at that time, Mike discloses to his father the aspirations to be a cameraman for Monday Night Football, which makes Dave proud of him. Dave accepts the job. Dave's former dislike for his fans, a reflection of his own low self-respect, has gone now that he has gained his father's approval and learned to accept his life.

Released on October 28, 2005, the film was a box office bomb, with a total gross of $19,039,770 worldwide. The Weather Man received mixed reviews, gaining an overall score of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is similar to The Family Man (2000, Brett Ratner).