--- title: "The Weather Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-weather-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-weather-man" critics_score: 53 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Weather Man (2005): what the critics said Critics' score 53 from 13 reviews: 3 positive, 6 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews lean mixed, with as many unconvinced as persuaded. Where critics agree is on the father-son material: the scenes between Nicolas Cage and Michael Caine are named again and again as the film’s strongest element, and Caine’s world-weary father is the performance most often praised, often above Cage’s restrained turn. Most also find a welcome streak of black comedy, and the Los Angeles Times goes further, calling it a sincere, contemplative study of mediocrity and self-doubt. The reservations cluster around tone and around the hero himself. Several critics find a well-paid television weatherman’s domestic troubles hard to care about, and more than one calls the film bleak and dreary rather than wry. The spread is wide. The Los Angeles Times and The Guardian sit near the top; Variety and Empire sit at the bottom, Empire objecting in particular to running gags about child molestation. Hope Davis draws praise even from Variety’s otherwise hostile notice. ## Los Angeles Times — Carina Chocano Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2005. Chocano finds the film a sincere, wry, and contemplative character study that explores mediocrity and existential doubt. She especially praises the cinematography and the restrained performances by Nicolas Cage and Michael Caine. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-28-et-weatherman28-story.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 March 2006. French finds the film a brisk, modest comedy and an acute study of a father-son relationship. He praises its barbed humor, which keeps occasional sentimentality in check. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/mar/05/philipfrench1) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 2006. The accessible page identifies this as a film review, but provides no review text from which to determine the critic’s verdict. It likewise reveals no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-weather-man-1) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 28 October 2005. Ebert gives the film a mixed assessment of a man struggling with personal failure. The review focuses on the protagonist’s strained family relationships as the film’s central strength and concern. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-weather-man-2005) ## Screen Daily — Patrick Z McGavin Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2005. The critic describes the film as a bittersweet lament and critique of American accomplishment. The standfirst singles out its less toxic take on the emotional wreckage of professional ambition. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-weather-man/4024812.article) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2005. Tobias finds the film overburdened by its hero’s dysfunction, though it has a welcome streak of black comedy. He singles out the affecting father-son scenes between Nicolas Cage and Michael Caine as its strongest element. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-weather-man-1798201148) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2/4. 27 October 2005. Schager finds the film’s attempt at off-kilter pathos forced and its moroseness contrived. He singles out Nicolas Cage’s fine, focused performance as a bright spot. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-weather-man/) ## Radio Times — Brian Pendreigh Rating 2/5. Pendreigh finds the protagonist’s domestic troubles difficult to care about given his lucrative career. He praises Michael Caine’s performance as the weatherman’s intimidating father. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-6m2v0q/the-weather-man/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 2/5. 3 March 2006. The critic finds the film a bleak, dreary misstep and says its protagonist is difficult to sympathise with. Michael Caine is singled out for bringing affecting, world-weary dignity to his role. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-weather-man-review/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2005. Chang finds the film oppressively bleak and says its attempts at humor cannot make it approachable. He praises Hope Davis’s assured performance for bringing a refreshing, self-possessed energy to the film. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/the-weather-man-1200520850/) ## Empire — Simon Braund Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2006. The critic finds the film deeply unsympathetic and unpleasant, with little of the hoped-for humor or uplift. They single out its jarring use of child molestation and pre-pubescent genitalia as running gags as especially unfunny. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/weather-man-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2006. Wilkinson finds the film compelling and effective at balancing everyday humour with pain. She especially praises its grounded portrayal of familiar family troubles. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-weather-man-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Skinny — Paul Greenwood Rating ★★★. 17 March 2006. Greenwood calls it a diverting, darkly comic film that is occasionally plodding. He praises Michael Caine, whose performance towers above Nicolas Cage’s restrained turn. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-weather-man) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-weather-man.md