It Could Happen to You (1994) User Reviews

An enjoyable piece of escapism

[philip_vanderveken · 7/10 · 30 June 2005]

The question that probably everybody once asked to himself / herself and many others is: what would you do if you won the lottery? Well, I know what I would do with it. I wouldn't change much to my lifestyle, but for those who don't know what to expect, this movie gives a good idea of how gaining a lot of money in a short period of time can influence your entire life... But I don't watch movies to know what to do with my life and neither should other people. Movies are entertainment and this one certainly offers plenty of that.

When Charlie Lang, a New York cop with a heart of gold, can't give a tip to Yvonne, a waitress at a small diner, he promises her that he will come back the next day to give her the double of her money or, in case he wins anything, half of his share of the state lottery. Of course she doesn't believe him, but when he comes back the next day and offers her the chance to chose between the two options, she goes for the lottery option. Only than he tells her that he has won 4 million dollars and that she will get half of that. But there is only one problem: his wife Muriel. She gets greedy, certainly doesn't want to share her money with a waitress she doesn't know, but doesn't even want to share it with her own husband. As Charlie and Muriel grow apart, Charlie and Yvonne grow together and it doesn't take long before Muriel files for divorce, grabs all the money and leaves with a rich man by her side...

There are plenty of romantic comedies nowadays and it is very hard to find a really good one. Well, this might be one of the few. I really liked it and there are many reasons for that. One certainly is that, despite the fact that we live in a world full of greed and egoism, some writers still try to give us hope by showing that not everything in the world is bad. OK, that may sound incredibly naive, but I really am not that stupid as you might think. I'm a business man in heart and soul, but sometimes I can really enjoy this type of positive escapism.

The fact that Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda play an important role in this movie also helps of course. And it has to be said, they really played their roles well and very convincingly. But they weren't the only ones, because the same can be said about Rosie Perez. She's incredibly good as the money-hungry bitch and despite what many people might think, she doesn't exaggerate. I've known people to change into someone just like her character once they had a bit of money in their hands... Overall this is a nice, perhaps a bit naive movie with some good acting and an interesting story. I really liked what I saw and find this one of the better romantic comedies I've ever seen. I give it a score of at least 7.5/10, although I think that even an 8/10 isn't exaggerated.

Good one

[sagitario · 7/10 · 11 March 2002]

I have seen this movie some time ago, and I really enjoyed it. It`s simple, nice, romantic, at times sad, and isn't that what life's about? Things and circumstances change, but the personality should remain, and the hope also. It shows a straightforward cop, a nice waitress and a posesive and nasty wife. I liked the story, I liked the acting of Cage and the lovely Bridget Fonda. She's cute. Good movie, I recommend it. See ya around.

Educational

[costafic · 7/10 · 19 March 2020]

I think this film is a great movie to watch with youngsters. The characterization is black and white obvious which is make bad vs. good behaviours identifiable to children. The film deals with more mature content such as divorce, greed and materialism in a way that's accessible for young people.

so hard to dislike

[Special-K88 · 7 March 2002]

Warm, enchanting, simply wonderful romantic comedy plays out like a fairy tale brought to life. Cage is a gracious, good-natured New York cop who wins the lotto, but against the wishes of his stingy, mercurial wife (Perez), he then splits it with a hard-luck waitress (Fonda) as repayment for not leaving a tip! Predictable every step of the way, and hard to believe (though it's purportedly based on a true story), but it's so well-performed, so irresistibly charming, so sweet and romantic that you really don't mind. Not only a good showcase for the film's ideal leads, but also a wholesome, kindhearted film that gives hope to the notion of human decency. ***

Modern-Day Capra

[PredragReviews · 6/10 · 10 April 2016]

The actual story behind the highly fictionalized movie script could have made a really good movie. According to the urban legend website "Snopes", the real events involved a not-so-young waitress and a not-so-young police detective who together select the winning numbers to a $6 million jackpot. There was no hint of romance between the two. But that would be too open-ended for the cookie cutter mentalities behind this movie. They must have went into a conference room or a lunch room or a diner and derived this formulaic romance between two unhappily married people.

Their result was this plot bringing together a Prince Charming, a Cinderella, a the Wicked Witch of New York. But they forget to include a nice dramatic flow of events. I just didn't experience any peaks and very little emotional depth. In the end, I wasn't satisfied.

At least Nicholas Cage makes the most of the opportunity to be normal and charming rather than quirky and charming (one of his first such efforts). He gives the movie whatever depth it attains. Pretty Bridge Fonda gives her usual quiet, unexciting performance. They're responsible for most of the positive rating I give this movie.

Rosie Perez, unfortunately, overwhelms the entire proceedings with nasally witchiness. And that's not the memory I want to take away from a movie.

Overall, it is a decent movie, a nice romantic comedy that ends "happily ever after." This is a story to watch to put someone in a good mood.... it's just basically a very good movie... and it's worth watching.

Overall rating: 6 out of 10.

It Could Happen to Cage.

[anaconda-40658 · 7/10 · 30 July 2015]

It Could Happen to You (1994): Dir: Andrew Bergman / Cast: Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Perez, Seymour Cassel, Isaac Hayes: Enjoyable romantic comedy about sudden change within a routine lifestyle. It stars Nicolas Cage as a cop who is devoted to serving others. Bridget Fonda plays a waitress struggling to make a living. The plot regards a lottery ticket Cage promises to split with Fonda if he wins. His wife will take him to court for his generosity. Interesting concept subdued by formula and an ill handling of adultery. Directed by Andrew Bergman with the same theme of chance conduct in his The Freshman and Honeymoon in Vegas. Cage and Fonda are likable actors who survive material where they become consumed in romantic clichés where it seems as if their relationship makes it okay for adultery. With the negative survival rate of marriages today it might be refreshing to see one actually portrayed as salvageable within motion pictures. On the flip side Rosie Perez as Cage's materialistic wife is a steal in her vindictive methods that eventually defeat her. Seymour Cassel has a standout role as someone who eventually stoops lower by overtaking the selfish. Isaac Hayes plays a poor man who becomes the ticket to happiness when generosity is demonstrated. It isn't a big role but it serves its purpose well. Theme regards giving, which the lottery cannot buy. Score: 7 / 10

A Cute Film with Wonderful Performances...

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 19 August 2014]

'It Could Happen to You' is the sort of film, that touches the core of your heart. Its a cute film, with wonderful performances.

'It Could Happen to You' Synopsis: A police officer promises to share his lottery ticket with a waitress in lieu of a tip.

'It Could Happen to You', which is inspired by a real-life incident, is a feel-good romantic-comedy, about people who are in need of money & love. Its entirely & unabashedly a human-story, that displays romance & life's usual hiccups with earnestness.

Jane Anderson's Screenplay is well-balanced. It has its share of humor & romance. Andrew Bergman's Direction is excellent. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design are fair.

Performance-Wise: Nicolas Cage is wonderful, as always. Bridget Fonda is beautifully restrained, offering a performance of pure emotion. Rosie Perez is extra-ordinary. She slips into her character effortlessly. Wendell Pierce is first-rate. Stanley Tucci & Richard Jenkins are decent. The Late/Great Isaac Hayes leaves a mark.

On the whole, 'It Could Happen to You' works. Thumbs Up!

5% factual!

[skarylarry-93400 · 6/10 · 28 June 2022]

How is it her ticket? HER TICKET as it was referred to by the attorneys and in court too? He bought the ticket! As his wife, she gets half. He can give away any of his half. It was his ticket! The story is 5% true. Even the 4 million was wrong; it was 6 million dollars! How can she sue for the entire amount? Flawed story!

This is how a modern romantic comedy should look like

[floydianer · 9/10 · 26 February 2006]

If you judge "It Could Happen to you" by its amount of realistic situations and characters, you'll probably give it a 4 out of 10. But, who cares about realism here? It's like a modern fairy tale, Frank Capra transported into the 90s. There's a wonderful storyline (Cop gives waitress a 2 million dollar tip), which apparently is even based on real-life events. Nicolas Cage plays the most honest cop imaginable, and he proves he can play a romantic lead role just as well as a dramatic action/thriller one. His character is not exactly 100 percent realistic, but that's not a problem, this is Hollywood for heaven's sake.

Even better than Cage is his female leading lady: the fascinating Bridget Fonda. Fonda is a wonderful actress who can play both a cute character like her waitress Yvonne here and more challenging roles like the LadyMacBeth-similar one in "A Simple Plan". Unfortunately she never had the career of a Julia Roberts but she is in fact more talented and better looking. Throughout the whole movie she gives a good performance and looks gorgeous. If I had the choice of giving a waitress the lottery money or not and the woman looked like Fonda I might even give it to her. Of course there aren't so many waitresses out there that look (and behave) as charming as her and chances are low I'll ever win two millions in the lottery.

Also notable is the wonderful chemistry between Cage and Fonda. As for the supporting roles special mention has to go to Perez. Although you wonder why Cage married her in the first place, she gives a humorous and entertaining performance. Of course there's kitsch but that's not necessarily bad. Good kitsch can be wonderful and this film, that has an absolutely great happy ending, serves as a perfect example of how a romantic comedy should be filmed. It's better than "Pretty Woman".

"A promise is a promise!"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 17 March 2022]

This could have been a nice fictional romantic comedy but it was actually based on a true story. I watched it with my wife and got into an interesting conversation about how she would react if I made the same offer to a diner waitress. I'll spare you the results of that one.

I liked Bridget Fonda in this one, Nic Cage was alright, but Rosie Perez just grated on my nerves. I know that's how her character Muriel was supposed to be, but even so. I couldn't see how she and Charlie Lang (Cage) hooked up in the first place. The picture had its moments, and it didn't take much to connect the dots to an eventual romance between Yvonne (Fonda) and Charlie. On the flip side, Muriel and the Gross guy (Seymour Cassel) looked like they deserved each other too.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll ever experience a windfall pot of gold like the Lang's did, but one can dream, right? The finale of the story reminded me of "Miracle on 34th Street" with its outpouring of support for the 'new' Lang's. If the picture didn't actually have some basis in real life, it would have been as hard to believe as Santa Claus.

Annoying comedy

[m_finebesser · 4/10 · 4 August 2001]

Rosie Perez plays the shrewish wife well beyond reasonable boundaries. The movie trots out every nasty New York cliche in the book. Nicholas Cage stumbles through the movie like Jackie Gleason's "Poor Soul."

On the plus side, Bridget Fonda scores well as the waitress whenever she is given the opportunity. Seymour Cassel is marvelous, stealing every scene in which he appears.

But, it's too mean-spirited and trite for me to ever wish to see again.

Excellent romantic, feel-good film!

[LebowskiT1000 · 9/10 · 2 January 2003]

I'm not really the type of person that gets all excited about romantic films, but there is just something about this film that makes you feel good all the way through.

Not only is the film very touching and quite romantic, but it also has something to say about honesty and greed in the world. Although, this isn't the first movie in history to touch on these subjects, but I'm pretty sure it has never been done quite like this before.

The cast in this film is just plain excellent. Nicolas Cage is as great as always, no big surprises or let downs in that department. Bridget Fonda is spectacular in her role. She delivers a very heart-felt performance and looks nothing less than fantastic throughout the film. Both characters played by Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda were excellent characters and really seem like people that you enjoy being around. Rosie Perez was very good in her role, I actually HATED her character, not in the sense that she did a poor job, but that her character was an unlikeable person. Wendell Pierce's character (Bo Williams) was great too, also a person you would be proud to call a friend. Isaac Hayes was nice touch in the film. The rest of the cast was very good as well.

I would definitely recommend this film to anyone that likes Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda, romantic-comedies or just feel-good movies. I really enjoyed this film quite a bit and I hope that you will too. Thanks for reading,

-Chris

Actually a good romantic comedy from the 90s

[lisafordeay · 7/10 · 31 March 2023]

It Could Happen To You is a 1994 romantic comedy starring Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda with a special appearance by Issac Hayes. A young waitress named Yvonne(Fonda) is on the verge of a divorce and she has barely any money to scrape by(despite the fact she has a job). Things take a turn when she meets a cop named Charlie(Cage) who seems to be happily married to his wife Muriel,and he happens to win the lottery. With pure kindness Charlie splits the money with Yvonne and the two become a global sensation with the townsfolk. But when Muriel files for a divorce from Charlie,he starts to have feelings for Yvonne. Will they or won't they get together?.

Overall I enjoyed this film. I've always had a soft spot for Nicolas Cage and himself and Bridget Fonda had great chemistry together. If you haven't seen it do check it out.

It Could Happen to You

[jboothmillard · 5/10 · 14 August 2009]

I didn't realise that this Frank Capra like titled film from director Andrew Bergman (Honeymoon in Vegas, Striptease) was based on a true story, so I was certainly going to try it. Basically New York police officer Charlie Lang (Nicolas Cage) has a heart of gold, and when unable to give coffee shop waitress Yvonne Biasi (Bridget Fonda), he promises to give either the tip or half his lottery winnings, if he wins, to her the next day. Unbelievably, Charlie and his wife Muriel (Rosie Perez) do win the lottery jackpot, sharing $4,000,000 with seven other winners, and of course Charlie still wants to stick to the promise he made to Yvonne. Muriel of course is mad that he made this promise in the first place, and is sticking to it, and Yvonne is shocked to be given $2,000,000. Over time, Muriel is demanding a divorce from Charlie, wanting the full cash settlement, plus what he gave to Yvonne. It is when Charlie and Yvonne have fallen for each other, after the split, that they are both determined to win their case. They don't win the case to keep the $2,000,000, but in the end they get lots of the money back from generous senders who know they deserve to do something good with it. Also starring Wendell Pierce as Bo Williams, Isaac Hayes as Angel Dupree, Víctor Rojas as Jesu, Seymour Cassel as Jack Gross, Stanley Tucci as Eddie Biasi, J.E. Freeman as Sal Bontempo, Red Buttons as Walter Zakuto, Richard Jenkins as C. Vernon Hale and Robert Dorfman as Walter. Considering it is based on truth, this is a nice charming film with the romantic comedy theme, with Cage, Fonda and Perez all making top form performances. Worth watching!

Cage and Fonda Deliver Nice Performances in This Nice Film.

[tfrizzell · 6 July 2002]

Heart-warming little comedy that uses old Hollywood tactics to tell a fairy tale story that works really well on the big screen. New York cop Nicolas Cage does not have a tip for diner waitress Bridget Fonda so promises to split his earnings if he wins the state's lottery. Amazingly he does win. His share is $4 million and true to his word he gives half to Fonda to wife's Rosie Perez's dismay. Perez is the boss in a loveless marriage. Cage and Fonda then start to fall in love with each other and Perez decides to divorce Cage just out of spite and try to get the entire $4 million for herself. A really beautiful romantic film that works due to quiet, but highly effective performances by Cage and Fonda. Perez steals every scene here and the film's good screenplay makes it a nice success. 4 stars out of 5.

the sweetest characters

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 19 March 2016]

Yvonne Biasi (Bridget Fonda) is an aspiring actress gone bankrupt. Charlie (Nicolas Cage) is a NY city beat cop and his wife Muriel Lang (Rosie Perez) is desperate to get out of their one bedroom apartment in Queens. He's eating lunch at a diner with his partner Bo Williams (Wendell Pierce). With no money for the tip, he promises to split his lottery ticket with her and come back with a tip if it doesn't win. The jackpot is $64 million. Muriel is angry to split the jackpot with 15 other tickets but then Charlie tells her about Yvonne. Charlie pities Yvonne and gives her a choice between double the tip or half of the ticket. However, the money isn't what brings happily ever after.

It's a very sweet premise with nothing too risky. It depends a lot on the actors to make this straight romance work. Bridget is classic and Nick is restrained. They are sweeter than molasses. Rosie is as loud as heck and an annoying villain. It's a simple romantic fable that hits most of the right notes. This could have been made by Frank Capra himself.

Feels Good. Yum Yum.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 21 August 2012]

It resembles one of those movies out of Hollywood in the 1930s, with people like Jean Arthur and Jimmy Stewart. It's a light-hearted comedy that warms the cockles of your heart, if your heart has any cockles at all.

Nicholas Cage is a police officer who lives in Woodside, Queens, with his wife Rosie Perez. She'd love to get out of Queens but Cage has grown up there and rather likes the working class ambiance. He likes his job too. She's restless. They don't have too much to say to one another anymore, although that doesn't stop Rosie Perez from talking.

One afternoon, Cage and his partner (an affable African-American) stop in a luncheonette for coffee. Bridget Fonda, who has just run out of money and declared bankruptcy that morning, is their waitress. Her caddish husband, Stanley Tucci, maxed out their credit cards and took off on her. She's a nice girl. Well, I mean, she treats guys with AIDS with special consideration, obeys her mean boss's orders to the best of her ability, is efficient, and he co-workers like her.

When Cage tries to pay the bill, he realizes he doesn't have enough change to leave her a tip. Cage gives Fonda a choice: Double the tip tomorrow, or no tip at all but half his winnings in case he wins the New York State lottery. She's been so battered by life that she chooses "door number two," figuring nothing will come of either choice.

Of course something does come of it. Life is a bed of pain but sometimes the maid leaves a bonbon on the pillow case. Cage wins four million bucks. And he's such a good guy that he honors his promise to Fonda to give her half of it -- much to the chagrin of his wife who, at this point, has begun to sound like a yapping little chihuahua.

Perez gets into re-doing their apartment in a manner so ugly that even I -- who live in what looks like the reincarnation of an Egyptian whorehouse from 1910 -- noticed its ugliness. She buys expensive furs and has her boobs done, and she takes up with an older guy who knows how to make her money work for her.

I leave it to the discerning viewer to guess what happens between nice Bridget Fonda and nice Nicholas Cage. I also leave it to the viewer to guess whether the two of them find that money is far from the most important thing in life.

Nicholas Cage usually brings something interesting to his roles, and here he's at least believable in a part that -- let's face facts -- is essentially a challenge to our phenomenological reduction. A New York cop who loves Queens and won't quit his job no matter what. Bridget Fonda is an exceptionally attractive woman with rather broad, bony shoulders, a nice figure, and legs that slither when she walks, but this isn't her kind of part. She's not a New York waitress. She's a California surfer girl who doesn't know what we achieved independence from on July 4th. She thinks Independence Day is just an excuse for fireworks and parades.

Stanley Tucci, as the manipulative husband, isn't around much but I can't think of a performance of his that I haven't admired. The rest of the supporting cast is pretty good.

But now I've had time to rethink things. In that hypothetical 1930s movie? Delete Jean Arthur. She whines too much. Substitute Rosalind Russell, who is better at being driven to frenzy.

Impossible-to-dislike romantic comedy

[peterhuppertz · 7/10 · 25 December 2006]

Completely irrational. Highly implausible. Extremely exaggerated.

And still, I cannot find a way to dislike it. Sometimes, you like it when a movie extracts precisely those bits of reality that you like, and emphasizes them.

Some of the scenes are superfluous, and do not add to the overall storyline - but the main thread is simply charming, even if you're not a sucker for romantic comedies. I am not, so I can tell ;-) The characters are portrayed in such a way that you choose sides quickly - from the start of the movie, you know who's Good and who's Bad. But they are also portrayed in such a way that you stick around to support the Good Ones. And you're not disappointed.

It Could Happen to You is a Real Sweet Film

[tbills2 · 6/10 · 5 August 2013]

It was some many years before I ever got around to watching this lovely film, but as I've seen it multiple times in the last five years or so, now I hold it dear as one of the fonder movies. It has such a real decency to it. It's realistic display of depicting a very kind gesture, sharing millions of lottery winnings money with a complete stranger, makes it simultaneously edgy while homely. It Could Happen to You is a soft-spoken hit film. There's not a lot of fuss to how good it is, it's just there, and it's just good. It's lead by its acting, with such good actors and actresses. Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda, and Rosie Perez are all very good for the viewing. I really like all three of these movie stars. This is one of Nic Cage's more appreciative films, and he has so darn many. Bridget Fonda gives a good, lovely performance starring in one of her best, most memorable movies. Rosie Perez is so good and she's doing her best to try to steal the show, but there's no way she would have been able to. The beautiful growing relationship between Charlie and Yvonne is too good in It Could Happen to You. It Could Happen to You is a great, great, great film to get lost in, really good to lose yourself in for a time. It's wonderful, and it really makes you think. After all, it could happen to you.

The nearest any film's ever come to breaking me...

[Kinitawowi · 9/10 · 5 June 2002]

...as a cynic.

I, through whatever reason, am absurdly cynical. A cynic, lest we forget, is somebody who puts very little faith in the good nature of humanity. Somebody who considers all good deeds to be selfishly motivated.

Somebody who should absolutely hate this film.

But I can't. I love this to pieces. No film has ever done as much to give me some faith in people. If Charlie can do the decent thing and split his ticket with Yvonne to fulfil a promise, despite the demands of a furious Muriel; if despite reaching a financial and emotional low they can still invite Angel in to put some food in his belly; and if the New York public can show their appreciation by doing whatever little they can to help out; then maybe, just maybe, there might be hope for the rest of us.

This. Is. Beautiful.

Anyone would like it

[solo-11 · 7/10 · 16 April 1999]

An honest, sweet fairy tale that is concise and heart-warming.

Why it wasn't screened in Singapore, I don't know. Guess it was the Forrest Gump phenomenon. And I didn't even really enjoy Forrest Gump.

It's a movie few would dislike. A wonderfully creative ending too.

Title sounds vaguely threatening...as well it should

[moonspinner55 · 1/10 · 28 April 2001]

Anemic comedy suffers from a fatal case of the cutes. Cop Nicolas Cage is forced by a promise to split his Lotto winnings with a good-hearted waitress (played by Bridget Fonda, giving us evidence why her career stalled in the late 1990s). Anyone who loves--or even mildly likes--a picture such as this doesn't understand the intricacies of movie romance. This is sub-"Sleepless In Seattle" (if that's possible). There is nothing visually interesting happening, nothing emotionally worthy occurring at any time, and there are no characters worth giving a damn about. Absolutely bankrupt, and one of the worst films of the decade. NO STARS from ****

Sweetest romantic comedy possible

[inkblot11 · 9/10 · 28 May 2003]

It Could Happen to You certainly meets any criteria for a good romantic comedy. It's got a handsome male lead (Nicolas Cage), a sweet damsel in distress (Bridget Fonda) and a villian (Rosie Perez). Add a plot that swivels between wonderful scenes of the interested parties falling in love and the chaos erupting from the bad woman with an attitude and you have a story that captures and holds the interest of the viewer. Isaac Hayes does a wonderful job narrating the story as it unfolds. This is one of my favorite movies of all time and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to curl up in an easy chair and watch an adorable romantic comedy with some touching dramatic scenes.

Cute.

[GHCool · 6/10 · 9 September 2001]

This is a cute movie. There are two reasons to see this movie. The first and most obvious is if you are on a date. The second reason is if you have been corrupted by movies like Starship Troopers and think all movies are about nothing. This movie is about something. Roger Ebert wrote this week, "Great films make audiences better; bad films make audiences worse" and I couldn't agree more. This movie may sound preachy, but its not. If a cry for love and human decency in the face of materialistic America is being preachy, then we can throw anything we have faith in out the window right now.

Decent enough storyline

[ajsdisc · 4/10 · 5 September 2022]

I find the entire movie ruined due to Rosie Perez voice! It just grinds on me. Squeaky loud and annoying.

The alternative love story under pinning the movie is a good one and Nick Cage was and is a great actor.

Fonda is a pretty woman and exudes life and freshness into the movie.

The story line although far fetched captures your hopes and dreams. Not sure many people would give away half a lottery win though.

The maths doesnt really add up. The winners keep half (2 mill) and this woman he made a promise to gets half. Meaning the winners get 25% each and a woman with no stake etc gets 50%? Doesnt really add up.