It Could Happen to You (1994)

71% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(46,469 ratings)

Loosely based on a true story, this uneven romantic comedy depicts the unexpected way in which a winning lottery ticket unites a pair of strangers. Waitress Yvonne (Bridget Fonda) first meets police officer Charlie (Nicolas Cage) when he eats in her restaurant. Realizing that he doesn't have enough… More Loosely based on a true story, this uneven romantic comedy depicts the unexpected way in which a winning lottery ticket unites a pair of strangers. Waitress Yvonne (Bridget Fonda) first meets police officer Charlie (Nicolas Cage) when he eats in her restaurant. Realizing that he doesn't have enough money to give her a tip, Charlie promises Yvonne to split any winnings from the lottery ticket he just bought. The skeptical Yvonne dismisses Charlie as just another cheapskate until he wins four million dollars and, much to Yvonne's surprise, decides to honor the agreement. His action becomes front page news and wins public acclaim, but it doesn't go over nearly so well with Charlie's wife Muriel (Rosie Perez), who has her own plans for the money. Muriel's shallow, greedy behavior disgusts Charlie, who finds himself spending more and more time with Yvonne, developing a friendship that threatens to blossom into something more. Jane Anderson's screenplay stresses the relationship between Charlie and Yvonne's characters over the situation's comic potential; this earnest tone will please romance fans but may disappoint viewers expecting the farcical comedy of writer/director Andrew Bergman's and Cage's previous effort, Honeymoon in Vegas. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Andrew Bergman
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 29, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Oct 30, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Brian Lowry, Variety
Bergman...really brings home the homage to Capra with the pic's warm, bordering-on-irresistible finale.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Sweetness is fine as far as it goes, but this oddball romance could have used a twist of lemon.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Simply and without pandering or insults to your intelligence, the movie delivers more of the old-style pleasures of moviegoing than any other picture in a long while.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Bergman never goes for heavy-handed schmaltz, and the whole movie has the same lighthearted big city spirit as the New York Post headlines that follow the story.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
If you're looking for a late summer, "feel good" romantic comedy, there aren't too many around more affable than this one.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
The nastiness in the movie feels derived from life, while all the niceness feels canned -- imported from old Jimmy Stewart pictures.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...generally comes off as an absolutely charming romantic comedy that benefits substantially from the unequivocal chemistry between its stars.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Writer Jane Anderson is a gifted scenarist who seems constrained by a Hollywood formula which places the happy romantic ending on the horizon like a beacon to stare at for nearly two hours.
, Film4
Anderson's script manages to be both funny and touching without lapsing into undue sentiment.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though set at present, this schmaltzy romantic comedy might as well have been set in the 1950s or even 1930s, because at heart it's a Capra comedy celebrating the decency of the "little people."
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Perez has a field day as Muriel, injecting a welcome note of good old-fashioned greed into what is otherwise a relentlessly edifying story.
Fred Topel, About.com
Best romance ever. Real, genuine characters with real, developed relationships. Not insulting, not cutesy, just wonderful.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Pleasant rags-to-bitches tale, with Fonda shining.
Shellie Iliff, Palo Alto Weekly
Berggman shows that good-hearted folks get better with money, and evil people get nastier. The message is predictable.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
A nice little gem of a summer romantic film that ought to pick up your spirits.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
If there's one thing that makes this film really really work, it's the flawless cast.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Adult fairy tale that will make you feel giddy and glad to be alive.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
So-so romantic comedy sunk by the cast
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Overlong, dull and forgettable.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jay H

I'm not a Nicholas Cage fan. At all. But in this film he has his act together. He and Bridget Fonda have wonderful chemistry and together create this charming, lovely romance film. Yeah, it's a bit tacky and unrealistic at times, but it's just too pleasant and supremely… More
I'm not a Nicholas Cage fan. At all. But in this film he has his act together. He and Bridget Fonda have wonderful chemistry and together create this charming, lovely romance film. Yeah, it's a bit tacky and unrealistic at times, but it's just too pleasant and supremely watchable that it's very hard to dislike it.
Candy R

Based on a true story. A cop gives half a lottery ticket to a waitress in lieu of a tip. He wins $4 million. They are thrown together and become romantically involved. Good cast.
Leigh R

So sweet. I really liked Fonda in her character here...
Anthony L

A sweet film but, my God, anything over five minutes of Rosie Perez screen time is pushing it!
danny d

i was pissed when i realized it couldnt really happen to me
Curtis L

okay
Jason S

I liked it. It was a nice story and it was a pretty honest one. The characters who you are supposed to like, you like. The ones you are supposed to hate, you hate. It was well made and cast perfectly. A nice one to watch with the lady in your life.
xGary X

Rosie Perez goes throgh her foul mouthed shrew routine once again, but without the swear words...? A rom com without the rom. Or com.
Dean M

This is my favourite romantic-comedy film between a cop and a waitress that make their dreams come true.
Deb S

Charlie Lang (Nicholas Cage) is an honest hard working cop who has modest ambitions and enjoys his life in his local neighbourhood in Queens. When he buys coffee at a local diner he feels bad because he hasn't got enough to leave a tip for the waitress Yvonne (Bridget Fonda) and… More
Charlie Lang (Nicholas Cage) is an honest hard working cop who has modest ambitions and enjoys his life in his local neighbourhood in Queens. When he buys coffee at a local diner he feels bad because he hasn't got enough to leave a tip for the waitress Yvonne (Bridget Fonda) and instead promises to split a lottery ticket if it wins. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=1yoefq" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/1yoefq.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The unbelievable happens and it wins for millions. A man of his word, he splits the prize money and this sets off his money hungry witch of a wife played perfectly by Rosie Perez. The presence of the exaggerated irritating Perez really helps - even if you don't like her you will still have to admit that her greedy character does well to take some of the syrup out of the film and make it a little more enjoyable. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=11i0d4h" target="_blank"><img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/11i0d4h.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Christopher O

Nicolas Cage has never been so charming as a good natured cop who promises to share his lotto winnings with the waitress who serves him if wins because he couldn't leave her a tip. Based on a true news story, this film examines whether money is the answer to true happiness or… More
Nicolas Cage has never been so charming as a good natured cop who promises to share his lotto winnings with the waitress who serves him if wins because he couldn't leave her a tip. Based on a true news story, this film examines whether money is the answer to true happiness or love. Bridget Fonda is beautiful and vulnerable as the waitress and Rosie Perez is wonderfully villainous as Cage's wife who isn't so happy about sharing the winnings. A feel good movie.
Curt C

A delightful romance about good (and bad) things happening to kind-hearted people. The love story is sweet and not forced. Nicholas Cage is really likeable here.
Lee K

Pretty good romantic comedy that has you wondering, Would i do the same thing? Nahhh!
Leo L

Love this movie!

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Nicolas Cage as Charlie Lang

            Bridget Fonda as Yvonne Biasi

            Rosie Perez as Muriel Lang

            Wendell Pierce as Bo Williams

            Isaac Hayes as Angel

            Seymour Cassel as Jack Gross

            Victor Rojas as Jesu

            Stanley Tucci as Eddie Biasi

            Mina Bern as Muriel's Neighbour

            Red Buttons as Walter Zakuto

            Ranjit Chowdhry as Mr Patel

            Willie Colon as Mayor

            Angel David as Esteban

            Ann Dowd as Carol

            John Louis Fischer as Plaza Bellhop

            J.E. Freeman as Sal Bontempo

            Merwin Goldsmith as Bankruptcy Judge

            Richard Jenkins as C.Vernon Hale

            Kay Tong Lim as Sun

            Anna Lobell as Korean Deli Customer

            George J. Manos as Loto Official

            Feiga Martinez as Jesus' Mom

            Vincent Pastore as Bowling Team Member #1

            Frank Pellegrino as Water's Edge Maitre d'

            Rene Rivera as Julio

            Beatrice Winde as Judge

            Ginny Yang as Mrs Sun

            Felipe Luciano as Television Reporter

            Charles Busch as Timothy

            Robert Dorfmann
            
            Alan Muraoka as Television Reporter

            John Norman Thomas as Mr Muktananda

            Emily Deschanel
            
See full cast