Gore Verbinski continues to amaze, consistantly bringing his A-game to the director's chair. This outing he brings neither pirates nor intelligent mice, but a story about life. The life in particular is that of a weatherman who must learn that, like the weather, life is not always predictable or pleasant.
That weatherman is Dave Spritz (Nicholas Cage), who is at the top of his game professionally while his personal life crumbles around him. The same day he discovers that he's on the short list to take over as the weatherman on a nationally-viewed morning show hosted by Bryant Gumbel, he finds out his father (Michael Caine) has been diagnosed with lymphoma.
Dave's father is a driving force in his life, making him want to become a better person if only so his father doesn't think less of him on his deathbed. His life continues to spiral as he works to stop being hit by fast food thrown out of moving vehicles, reconcile with his ex-wife, help his daughter discover herself and protect his son who has recently entered a drug rehabilitation program. His journey takes him from the streets of Chicago to the archery range, where he learns to channel and focus some of his problems, and finally to New York to take his audition as well as bring his father to a specialist.
The film is told from Dave's perspective, only cutting away to focus on some of the problems his children are going through. Cage does solid voiceover work that helps develop his character and propel the story along to its conclusion.
The acting in the film is solid, with only minor hiccups. Cage dusts off some characterizations he's used in previous pictures, but they work well for him, allowing Dave to be slightly outrageous while maintaining a look of despair when the world comes crashing back down onto his shoulders. Caine's work as Dave's father could have been overbearing, but he portrays a man who's seen and done a lot with his life and wants his son to be able to do the same with his. Caine's performance is probably the best in the film, but Cage does some scene stealing of his own.
The supporting cast does a fine job. Hope Davis's performance as Dave's ex is genuine, but it's not enough to make a lasting impression. As for Dave's children, they fit their parts well. Nicholas Hoult has grown a lot from his turn in "About a Boy," but puts in a similar performance as Dave's son. Gemmenne de la Pe¤a also holds her own as Dave's socially awkward daughter. Overall, the acting is good, but not Oscar-worthy.
Verbinski has put together a picture that takes cues from its characters rather than plot. This is partly thanks to Steve Conrad's script, but without proper direction the cast could have easily fallen apart. The shooting also adds to the overall feeling - at the start, the coloration is grey and dreary, but as Dave starts to pull his life together, the colors brighten along with the tone.
Part of Verbinski's skill as a director is his knowledge of when to keep characters reserved and when to let them out. As a result, the characters develop and grow without relying on hectic performances. This way, the viewer can actually get to know them and sympathize with their predicaments
Darkly funny, "The Weather Man" provides a lot. Its character-driven plot combines with sound acting to deliver a good picture that entertains and engages the audience simultaneously. The forecast for this film is mostly sunny, provided it is not hit too hard by its competition on opening weekend.
