Romantic comedies have gone through all states, from their boom in the 2000s to a rather low point in recent years. However, before the golden age of the genre began, several titles of this style with A-list stars were released.
One of these was “It Could Happen to You“, which premiered on the big screen in 1994 with Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda in the lead roles. It was directed by Andrew Bergman, based on a screenplay written by Jane Anderson.
The story follows a police officer who promises to share his lottery ticket with a waitress in exchange for a tip. At that time, the narrative was quite novel and eloquent, but what really stood out were the lead performances.
It Could Happen to You ranked No. 10 on Netflix US
As happens week after week, Netflix has once again refreshed its Top 10 worldwide and in the United States, now featuring new, highly-watched movies. The title that has claimed the last spot on the ranking is a 1994 rom-com: It Could Happen to You.
Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda and Red Buttons in It Could Happen to You. (Source: IMDb)
According to Flix Patrol, the classic starring Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda has managed to trend again, especially among American users. It has already surpassed several popular productions, and everything indicates that it is on track to surpass the cowboy thriller Seraphim Falls.
The film explores themes of generosity, loyalty, and how impulsive decisions can change people’s lives. While primarily a romantic comedy, it also includes elements of drama and social critique.
Nicolas Cage and Rosie Perez in It Could Happen to You. (Source: IMDb)
The story itself revolves around Charlie Lang, a kind and generous police officer in New York. One day, lacking money for a tip at a diner, he promises to share half of his future lottery winnings with the waitress, Yvonne Biasi.
Surprisingly, when he wins the lottery, he fulfills his promise, leading to unexpected consequences. As expected, the narrative was a success and ended up receiving generally positive reviews for its performances, humor and overall charm.
What was so special about It Could Happen to You?
It Could Happen to You ended up being known for its inspiring story and optimistic message, but at the time, it stood out in the romantic comedy genre for several reasons that set it apart from other films of the same style. One of these reasons is its unique premise.
The story, in which a police officer shares his lottery winnings with a waitress, was unusual and original for its time. This provided a fresh and different approach to the typical love story, in addition to exploring themes of generosity and loyalty beyond romance.
While primarily a romantic comedy, the film incorporated elements of drama and social critique. It tackled deeper issues, such as the impulsivity of decisions and how they can affect people’s lives and the consequences this can bring to our everyday reality.
Certainly, another standout factor was the performances of Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda, which were praised and contributed significantly to the success of the film. The chemistry between the leads and their ability to convey the emotion of the story were key elements.
