It Could Happen to You – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

It Could Happen to You

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1994

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A cop splits his lottery ticket with a waitress—his greedy wife is not amused. Peak 90s wholesome, but will modern kids actually sit through it?

75%

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It Could Happen to You

movie

PG, 1994

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A cop splits his lottery ticket with a waitress—his greedy wife is not amused. Peak 90s wholesome, but will modern kids actually sit through it?

75%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the truth: It Could Happen to You is a sweet, wholesome movie with genuinely good values about integrity and generosity. Nicolas Cage plays a kindhearted cop who actually keeps his word, which is refreshing. The moral lessons are clear and positive.

But let's be real—this is a 1994 rom-com that feels every bit of its 30+ years. The pacing is slow by modern standards, the production looks dated, and that 54% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes tells you it hasn't aged gracefully. Modern kids raised on fast-paced streaming content are going to find this a slog.

If you're a family that values old-school wholesome content and doesn't mind dated filmmaking, this could work for a family movie night. But if you're hoping your kids will actually enjoy it rather than tolerate it? Manage expectations. There are more engaging ways to teach integrity than making them sit through 90s Nicolas Cage being nice to a waitress.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 10+, which feels right. The themes about money, integrity, and relationships are most meaningful for tweens and up. Younger kids might enjoy it but won't get the nuance. That said, will modern 10-year-olds actually want to watch a 30-year-old rom-com? Probably only if parents are really selling it or it's a rainy day with limited options.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A genuinely heartwarming story about a cop who keeps his word and shares his lottery winnings with a waitress. Models integrity, generosity, and kindness in a straightforward way. The greedy wife provides contrast but the film's heart is about doing the right thing. Tone is gentle and optimistic without being saccharine.

Imaginative

Based on a true story, so it's more heartwarming than imaginative. The premise is charming but straightforward romantic comedy territory—no creative world-building, no unique storytelling techniques. It's a 'what if someone was actually honest?' scenario, which is sweet but not particularly inventive. Standard 90s rom-com execution.

Safe

Rated PG with Common Sense Media recommending age 10+. No violence, gore, or sexual content. The main conflict is about greed and a scheming spouse, which is mild drama. Some relationship tension and divorce themes, but handled in a light, comedic way. No surprise scary or traumatic content. Very predictable and safe viewing.

Enriching

Strong moral lesson about integrity and keeping promises even when it costs you. Shows consequences of greed vs. generosity. The premise invites real conversations about money, fairness, and doing the right thing. However, it's not particularly deep or challenging—it's feel-good entertainment with a clear moral, not nuanced ethical exploration. Decent values, limited depth.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely models integrity and keeping promises, even when it costs millions—rare to see such straightforward moral modeling in film
Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda have sweet chemistry; it's a nice antidote to cynical modern rom-coms
Great conversation starter about money, fairness, and doing the right thing when no one's watching
No scary content, no violence, no sexual situations—truly safe family viewing

⚠

What to Watch For

The greedy wife character is pretty one-dimensional and mean-spirited; some marital conflict and scheming, though handled lightly
Divorce is a plot element, which might need context for younger viewers
It's 1994 in every way—the pacing, the fashion, the production values will feel ancient to kids raised on modern streaming content
That 54% Rotten Tomatoes audience score tells you something: critics liked it more than regular viewers, and it hasn't aged particularly well

Conversation Starters

"If you won the lottery, would you share it with someone you barely knew just because you promised? Why or why not?"
"The wife wants to keep all the money—do you think she has a point, or is Charlie doing the right thing?"
"What would you do with $2 million dollars? How much would you give away vs. keep?"
"Why do you think Charlie cares more about keeping his promise than keeping the money?"

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