This is a Christmas movie if I’ve ever seen one. While there is no Santa Claus, Don Cheadle plays a Christmas angel and Nicolas Cage gets a glimpse of a life he never had. Sound familiar?

This is a real gem for Nicolas Cage. Before Bangkok Dangerous, before Knowing, Ghost Rider, and The National Treasure sequel, Nicolas Cage knew exactly what he was doing.

A rich and wealthy bachelor, Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) thinks that he has everything that the world could possibly offer—nice suits, a high-powered investment job, and a Ferrari. Well, this all changes when Don Cheadle gives him a glimpse of a different life, one in which he never left his high school girlfriend to go toLondon.

This so-called “glimpse” is filled with a hot wife, two kids, a house in the suburbs, a job at a place called Big Ed’s, and a minivan that has trouble starting. Needless to say, Jack Campbell is not happy with his new life, at least no at first. Sure, he considers an affair, mopes around, and even tries to go get his executive job back, but in the end, he learns something. Yes, a true Christmas miracle.

There are some really fantastic scenes in this movie. Particularly, one in which Jack Campbell watches a home video of himself singing the old Delfonics Jam, “La La Means I Love You” to his wife, Kate. Really, I’m thinking about replicating this scene for my marriage proposal. And Téa Leoni—wow! She really nails it as the completely supportive; however, no bullshit wife.

The Family Man is often underrated and overlooked as a Christmas film, even though it embodies one of those It’s a Wonderful Life/ A Christmas Carol lessons. Yet, it manages to do this in a way that feels updated and relatable to the lives that so many of us live. The ending to this film is also a winner. You think you know, but you really have no idea.