Released in 2006 I really do feel that the biographical drama, The Pursuit of Happyness is one of Will Smiths finest performances. As a father myself I found that I related a lot to this movie, but even if you are not a parent this is a movie that is going to tug on the heartstrings, but also make you feel more positive by the end of it.
How to Stream or Download The Pursuit of Happyness
You can obtain the movie from iTunes. SD and HD resolutions are both available. To begin downloading, click on the button below the review. And if you’re a fan of Will Smith, you should also watch him in Suicide Squad as Deadshot.
The Film Review
I will be honest and say that before this movie I had no idea who Chris Gardner was. This movie is actually based on his life and the struggles he went through in order to provide a good life for his son. I am not sure how close to the truth it is, but it certainly makes a good story.
Will Smith plays Chris Gardner. A man who is just trying to do what is right for his family. He actually has a good idea to make some money and that is by selling these medical scanners. Things do not exactly go to plan and he ends up in a real financial black hole. His wife (played by Thandie Newton) is not happy about this at all, she is working as a maid and they have their five-year-old son (who is played by Jaden Smith) to look after.
Through a series of unfortunate events, His wife moves to New York City and stating that she cannot be a single mother, she leaves their son with Chris. This is very hard to watch, but at the same time, Smiths performance is so good that you actually feel that he is the right parent to be looking after the child.
He manages to secure an unpaid internship, but this leaves him broke and he and his son are homeless. Seeing them bounce from place to place such as a shelter and even a restroom is very heartbreaking. This is because you know how much he wants to be successful. Not for him, but for his son. If you are a parent I am sure this gets you right on Chris’s side and you are just praying they can make it through this.
I do not want to spoil the ending of the story, but unless your heart is made of ice you will have a big smile on your face with the way the movie closes. It is a movie that is hard in places, but by the end of it The Pursuit of Happyness has a good message and I would say that it is a feel good story.
The bond between Chris and his son is just great. The reason for this is that the son is actually played by his real life son, Jaden Smith and this kid does a great job. He made this movie before he went kind of weird.
You would think that I would say the standout “thing” from this movie is the father and son relationship and do not get me wrong that is the heart of the movie. However, I feel that it is Will Smith playing Chris and Chris having this never give up attitude that really stands out and make this movie special. Will Smith really does a wonderful job and even after seeing this movie a few times it leaves me with a smile on my face.
