It Could Happen to You Movie Review – Heart of Gold
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you won the lottery? Would you keep it for yourself, donate to charity or use it to settle debts? You can see the decision of one police officer and his story with our It Could Happen to You movie review. Learn more about this incredible light-hearted movie, directed by the famous Andrew Bergman and starring Nicolas Cage. Use the quicknavi below to navigate through this blog.
It Could Happen to You 1994 Production Info
Released on the 29th of July 1994 in the US, the movie was a massive success with audiences. It was directed by Andrew Bergman, known as the Unknown King of Comedy for his incredible work with other comedy films such as “Honeymoon in Vegas” and “The Freshman”. He was even awarded the McLellan Hunter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Writing from the Writers Guild in America for his exceptional work on various books, movies, and even theatre plays on Broadway.
| 🗓️ Release Date: | 29th of July 1994 (US) |
| 🎬 Director: | Andrew Bergman |
| ✍️ Screenwriter: | Jane Anderson |
| 💰 Box Office: | $37, 939, 757 |
| ⏰ Runtime: | 101 minutes |
| 👓 Metacritic | 64 Metascore |
| 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes: | 54% Audience/71% Critics |
| 🌟 IMDb: | 6.4/10 |
| ❤️ Genre: | Romance, Comedy |
Andrew Bergman worked with famous screenwriter Jane Anderson and popular actor Nicolas Cage to create a fantastic modern fairy tale, distributed by TriStar Pictures. While gambling is more a tool to kick off the plot, it is refreshing to see it portrayed positively. With hilarious situations, touching romantic moments and great characters, this movie is just as exciting as playing at the best online roulette sites.
It Could Happen to You Film Plot – A Tale of Generosity
Unlike most gambling movies and tv shows, the It Could Happen to You film is a funny movie about an overly generous cop called Charlie Lang. When he couldn’t tip a waitress called Yvonne Biasi at a local diner, he states that he will either bring double the tip next time or split his lottery winnings with her. Meanwhile, Yvonne has fallen on hard times as her husband stole money from her and is sceptical of Charlie’s bold promise.
Fortunately, Charlie wins $4 million from the lottery, which is more than some of the biggest roulette wins. While Charlie’s wife is eager to enjoy a lavish life, Charlie keeps his promise and evenly splits the winnings with Yvonne. The movie then focuses on Charlie and Yvonne’s developing romance and generosity as Yvonne buys the diner and sets up a table where people who can’t afford food can eat for free. They even start paying for people’s subway tickets and giving gifts to children.
Unfortunately, Charlie’s wife, Muriel, gets fed up with his generosity. She hooks up with a man called Jack Gross and divorces Charlie, demanding he gives her all his winnings and everything he gave to Yvonne. As Charlie and Yvonne face a court case, will they live happily ever after, or is their dream life coming to an end? Below, you can find a sneak peek at the plot with the It Could Happen to You trailer:
It Could Happen to You 1994 is a fantastic movie with some very poignant morals. Andrew Bergman has created a unique and heart-warming comedy with loveable characters that will immerse you in this slice of life story. Winning the lottery is shown as a positive event, and that Charlie is such a charitable person is genuinely refreshing compared to other gambling films.
Although the plot is simple, there is never a dull moment in this movie. It perfectly combines funny gags with touching moments, including a bit of drama, creating the perfect blend that will make you forget the time. While the film may not be as action-packed as the Ocean’s Eleven movie, it is still an entertaining story for the whole family.
Cast of It Could Happen to You – An Incredible Performance
While Bergman is a talented writer and director, the real success is due to the cast of It Could Happen to You. Despite the unbelievable plot, everyone delivers a spectacular performance, making the characters feel like ordinary people. It may be easy to spot certain tropes, but the characters are so enjoyable, you will instantly fall in love with their antics. Below is a list of some of the actors in this movie:
| 🤵 Actor | 🎭 Role |
|---|---|
| Nicolas Cage | Charlie Lang |
| Bridget Fonda | Yvonne Biasi |
| Rosie Perez | Muriel Lang |
| Wendell Pierce | Bo Williams |
| Isaac Hayes | Angel Dupree |
| Stanley Tucci | Eddie Biasi |
| Seymour Cassel | Jack Gross |
Despite being famous for his wild personas, Nicolas Cage is a convincingly down to earth good cop. While he still gets into funny situations such as roller-skating into a pond, he has a certain subdued charm, and his integrity is an admirable trait. As Cage had worked with Bergman in “Honeymoon in Vegas”, he can perfectly capture Bergman’s vision for the character.
Bridget Fonda plays an unlucky waitress who slowly develops from a cynical and tired person to someone who finds hope in Charlie’s golden heart. She presents a more grounded and relatable story, where the fame and money end up causing trouble for her when her husband returns and demands a share of it. Fonda gives an excellent performance throughout the entire movie, and the character even gets a happy ending for her good deeds and remaining true to her good nature.
Even the antagonists are fun to watch. Rosie Perez’s hyperactive performance is perfect for the role of a nagging wife who only cares about fame and fortune. It’s easy to see her as the antagonist while still being entertained by her antics. Stanley Tucci, on the other hand, plays a more menacing character, reflecting Yvonne’s darker story. The supporting cast, such as Wendell Pierce’s fantastic performance as Charlie’s friend and foil, is spectacular.
The True Story of It Could Happen to You
Although the story might sound incredible at first, It Could Happen to You is based on an actual event, much like High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story. Just like the movie, in 1984, an officer called Robert Cunningham, offered to split his lottery winnings with a waitress named Phyllis Penzo instead of giving her a tip. The only difference is he won $6 million and thus gave the waitress $3 million, becoming a minor celebrity.
Aside from this event, the rest of the movie is entirely fictional. Cunningham and Penzo were happily married to other people and were simply long-time friends. Even the diner, where Yvonne works as a waitress, was a prop created for the movie, with the actual location being a pizzeria in Yonkers, New York. Nevertheless, both the actual event and It Could Happen to You 1994 are inspiring stories of generosity and the goodness of humanity.
It Could Happen to You Reception and Online Movie
In this part of our It Could Happen to You movie review, we will take a look at the movie’s reception. The film was received exceptionally well and made around $37 million at the box office with a budget of $19.99 million. The audience rates it a 6.4/10 on IMDb, citing the heart-warming romance and hilarious comedic bits as spectacular. Fans of this movie were also impressed by the immersive performances of the actors, and some even enjoyed the soundtrack featuring Frank Sinatra songs.
Critics adore the It Could Happen to You film, with Roger Ebert praising the cast of It Could Happen to You and the director’s talent. Overall, it is a famous movie beloved by many, with its cohesive and straightforward plot and memorable comedic moments. Whether you seek some light entertainment or want to see a masterful movie, you will be satisfied with It Could Happen to You.
As the movie is so popular, you can find it on a variety of streaming services. You can stream it on Youtube or Netflix, rent it on Apple iTunes or buy it on Amazon. Below, you can find some of the most popular places to watch the It Could Happen to You movie online and choose those that appeal to you the most:
| 📺 Service: | 🎞️ Type: |
|---|---|
| Netflix | Streaming |
| Apple iTunes | Rent |
| Youtube | Rent |
| Amazon Video | Rent/Buy |
| Google Play | Rent/Buy |
| Microsoft Store | Rent/Buy |
| Redbox | Rent/Buy |
| Vudu | Rent/Buy |
We hope you enjoyed our look at this fantastic movie. If you’re interested in more gambling movies, you can check out our 21 Movie Review. Alternatively, if you’re interested in trying out some gambling games for yourself, you can check out our roulette casino game guide or even prepare with the top roulette strategies.
It Could Happen to You Movie FAQ Section
Before we wrap up our It Could Happen to You movie review, we will answer some frequent questions regarding this movie. You can learn some more information about this film, such as trivia on its production, the cast of characters and even learn how you can watch this great film.
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