One Man's Chase in the Pursuit of Happyness
Written: Mar 27 '07
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: A good story, cast worked well together
Cons: Too many running scenes, some parts of the movie do not match the real-life story
The Bottom Line: Rent this feel-good movie on DVD
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| RcknRbn3's Full Review: The Pursuit of Happyness |
I really wanted to love this movie. The feel-good pieces are all there; struggle, overcoming the odds, a single father taking care of a very cute little boy. I wanted to put this movie on my must-see list, rather than my middle of the road, "watch it on DVD list." That was not to be, though.
The Pursuit of Happyness is a movie with a big story, but one that Hollywood has sensationalized to the point where I felt hypnotized until I walked out of the theater confused. The movie is based on the rise from poverty true story of Chris Gardner, and his road to becoming a millionaire stockbroker. Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, and his real-life son, Jaden Smith, plays his son Christopher in the movie. Thandie Newton gives a spunky performance as Christopher's mother, who eventually gets tired of the double shifts at the laundry factory and empty promises.
The story begins in 1981, and centers on Chris Gardner's multiple, and rolling troubles. Thandie Newton's character, Linda, disappears from the screen and the plot after she splits with Chris, and is not seen again. I felt that the movie had a definite tilt toward Chris Gardner being the person who the audience should feel sorry for, and then exalt to hero status.
Any personal flaws seemed to be forgotten in the script, in spite of the obvious fact that this was a man who struggled selling portable medical bone density scanners, after pouring his savings account into a warehouse sized purchase of them. Some might call that risky behavior, and many people might also feel at least some empathy for his partner who is supporting the family with a meaningless laundry job.
At some point, well past the point of repairing his relationship with Linda, Chris decides to try his hand at a stockbroker internship. The bulk of the movie minutes are dedicated to showing Chris's declining financial circumstances, as he descends into poverty with his young son.
The actors gave decent performances in the movie, and there were a few Oscar-worthy scenes, so the mediocre rating is not a reflection of the cast. The father-son relationship between Chris and Christopher was heartwarming and natural. The San Francisco scenery was a great backdrop. The intensity of the fear and panic that Chris Gardner began to feel as poverty slipped further into his life was palpable. Yet, there was something missing from this movie.
The Running Man
Any writer could easily get a paper or two out of the metaphors of chasing and running in this movie and Gardner's pursuit of happiness. Why there are so many scenes of Will Smith chasing someone or running in the movie is unknown. After the first three runs, I was breathing heavy. I am not convinced that the real-life Chris Gardner seriously ran down city streets as a matter of course. He even gets nailed by a car at one point after running in front of it, while chasing someone.
The movie peaks at the end when the outcome is decided for who wins the one in twenty chance to get a paid job with the stockbrokers firm, after Chris Gardner's six month unpaid internship. In reality, Chris Gardner did not have an unpaid internship, which is just one hint that Hollywood has rearranged this "true story," to get more attention from the audience.
In spite of many things that did not seem to work in this movie, it was still a decent, feel-good story that audiences will relate to. The universal appeal of the American Dream and the struggle to overcome great odds will win over many viewers. I actually liked watching the movie until it ended and I felt like the movie was just beginning. It's worth a rental, and I am certain that less skeptical viewers will appreciate The Pursuit of Happyness more than I could.
Three stars out of five for the acting.
Rating: PG-13, 117 minutes
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Feel-good Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Plot
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Epinions.com ID:
RcknRbn3
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Robin
Location: Western New York
Reviews written: 160
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