No stars

If I had to sum up the movie "The Weather Man" in one word, it would be: boring!

This totally depressing film about Dave Spritz, (Nicolas Cage), a local weatherman, and his dysfunctional family was a sorry excuse for entertainment.

Every relationship in this poor man's life is pathetic. From his ex-wife and his estranged father to his two "messed up" children, it was truly sad (and not in a weepy way. I love those movies). It was quite honestly the worst movie I have seen in years, possibly ever!

It started bad and got worse. The attempt at comedy in the film, throwing food at Spritz as he was walking down the street, was lame. I kept waiting for it to get better and it just didn't happen. Even what the writers probably thought was supposed to be a somewhat happy ending was pitiful.

Had it not been for this review, we would have walked out. This is one even diehard Nicolas Cage fans should miss. The only positive parts in the movie were the few touching scenes between Michael Caine and Cage, dying father and son, and Cage and his own children.

Don't waste your time or money.

-- Leslie Wright-Essner, teacher

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Three stars (out of four)

The film "The Weather Man" is surprisingly enjoyable. The story is simple, but very original. Nicolas Cage plays an excellent tragic hero, and watching him struggle through this portion of his life is undeniably poignant. The relationships he tries to mend, the factors he tries to change, the accomplishments he tries to embellish and flaunt, are, I'm afraid, in the back of many people's minds.

It is by an accredited director, Gore Verbinski, ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Ring") but is much smaller in scale and obviously driven by the script alone. The scenes, one by one, show this character having to confront some of the most uncomfortable, but terribly realistic, situations with his ex-wife, children and his father, perfectly played by Michael Caine. But most notably, we see him accepting his own lot in life. This film is dignified and witty, and if you pay attention, carries a heavy moral.

-- Meghan Holcomb