MovieChat Forums > The Family Man (2000) Discussion > Why Kate called Jack after 13 years?

Why Kate called Jack after 13 years?

posted 10 years ago by demochrite
13 replies | jump to latest

Why Kate called Jack after 13 years? It's not like an wealthy Wall Street executive would need those stuff from the box she gave him.For me, this is the real *beep* of this movie. Firstly, he left her for 1 year of London after which they haven't seen each other, not even a phone call for 13 years, though both were living in New York, who does that? Secondly, even if we assume that for some "reason" they couldn't or didn't want to get in touch with each other for 13 years, why the hell would you call your ex-boyfriend (if you were Kate) which you didn't see for 13 years so you could give him a box with pointless stuff in it, and then when you see him you just completely ignore him?

If that was the plot than this movie sucks. But i have enjoyed it. I liked Jack - a successful wealthy executive with a Ferrari in his real life, a man who goes from a guy who has no previous experience with kids or being married to a family man, from selling tyres to having an office on same flor as Alan's in his imaginary or alter life, while Kate was failure in both lives, a pro bono lawyer to moving to Paris. By the way, whats the deal with her moving to Paris? Doesn't France have a different law system; she practices law for more than 9 years in New York, why would she go to France? this is *beep*

[–] tyshimah3 10 years ago

Maybe she tried to get in touch with him but Jack was having into it... but when he had his epiphany, he realized he needed to see her.

And she reached out to him one last time because she knew she may never see him again and didn't want to cheat him out of his stuff... also, it was going to the Salvation Army if he hadn't responded.

I think Kate wanted to learn new things and wanted to start a new career. And what better way to do that than to go to France?

"Do you even remember what you came here to find?"

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Not such a big deal IMO. It could have been a phone call through her PA for all we know. "There's a box here Jack. If you want to come and get it".🐭

[–] WWu777 10 years ago

Lighten up. It was just a plot device to get them back together. If she didn't call then he wouldnt have thought of her. Or perhaps it's a synchronicity meant to bring them together.

[–] mel-holden 10 years ago

She was moving to London. Maybe you're the type not to try and get hold of the person who's belongings you have. Me, I'd have made the effort to get in touch with the person to see if they wanted the stuff. If they'd called and I'd told them what the stuff was, they might have just said 'pitch/donate it' - but I'd have been responsible about another's belongings.

[–] regexfan 10 years ago

Exactly like mel-holden (the poster above me) said. And it was just two simple calls back and forth through their PA's, nothing complicated. Jack's PA almost made the call to Kate (most likely just her PA), remember?

Kate only needs to tell her PA to find Jack Campbell's phone number, and informs him to call her back or something, see if he wants his stuff or not. If not, then the box goes to the Salvation Army. Nothing complicated or anything. They have PA's now, remember? She probably did that with stuff of her other friends/boyfriends too, not just Jack, so she wasn't that surprised seeing him. What, you want her to go "Oh, Jack, I so missed you, and you are so rich now I'm so impressed!" and all? Come on.

And it seems to me that Kate is also doing good on her own too. She's not a pro bono in the real life, didn't you catch that part? And what's with your problem with moving to Paris? Paris is a wonderful place to have a change of air. If she's broke and a "failure", as you put it, I doubt she will be moving to Paris. She'll be moving back with her mom LOL.

[–] regexfan 10 years ago

I've just re-watched that scene. Kate said she was moving to Paris because her firm has just opened an office there and she's going to be the head of that office. Still sounds like a "failure" in life to you? Come on.

[–] ThoseLittleRabbits 10 years ago

exactly. after reading these comments, i don't think these people watched the same movie...

i've got feelings too, ya know - inbetweeners

[–] mcgmcgmcg 10 years ago

She had his box.
She thought he wanted it.
He might have wanted it.

No cash here!! Here, no cash!!! Cash, no!!!! Robbo? No Cash!

[–] nipp0 9 years ago

Hahah I scrolled down to write this. Glad someone already did.

[–] mommydarlinest 9 years ago

Thank you! I just watched this movie last night and thought they never tied that in in the end. This explains it.

[–] MoDo12 9 years ago

To understand this film, you need to have lost a soulmate during high school and now be reflecting. This film makes you reminisce and that is its beauty..

[–] TimeTravelNexusDotCom 9 years ago

It's not that unusual to hold onto items for a former significant other with the intention of giving them back, especially if you still harbor feelings for that person or if you think you might get back together. It's possible Kate thought that after his time away she would be seeing him again. Perhaps she considered giving the box back over the years and just could not bring herself to throw them away. I do agree, though, that if she had kept them all that time, she would probably be a bit more interested in talking to him after 13 years, if only for nostalgia's sake.