The Pursuit of Happyness

Spell-check does not like that spelling for happiness but that’s the title of the movie Penny and I went to see today.


“I met my father for the first time when I was 28 year old. When I had children, my children were going to know who their father was.”
- Will Smith as Christopher Gardner


Will Smith convincingly plays a single father striving to make ends meet as he walks a shaky line between homelessness and achieving the American dream. The movie is a typical Hollywood underdog-succeeds movie, but it is done remarkably well. It’s a character study and is somewhat dark at times.


Will Smith really shines. There is none of his jiggly comic characteristics. Just a convincing performance of a man trying his best to be a good father while on the financial ropes. I find it interesting that he succeeds as a father but can’t really be with his son emotionally because of everything he is doing to take care of him. His son is played by his real-life son and this kid is a chip off the ol’ block.


For me the best scene comes when he finally wins the job he is working for. (No, I’m not giving away anything-would they make a movie about an underdog that fails?) It is one of those scenes where there is very little dialog but Will Smith’s red teary eyes and the expression on his face tell the story of what this accomplishment means. I like actors who can portray emotion clearly with no dialog. This is the only part of the movie where I welled up. The movie is not a tearjerker. It’s not manipulative either. It simply tells the story and lets you be the spectator.


I liked the film. I always like Will Smith but this role really demonstrates his acting ability. After all he is a very rich performer and he convincingly pulls off this role.


“You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.”
- Will Smith as Christopher Gardner (to his son)