The Pursuit of Happyness is Will Smith’s latest movie. I went to see it tonight and came out feeling like it deserved a good review, because it was a very good movie, so here is my attempt at doing such. The movie focuses on Will’s character, Chris Gardner, who when the movie opens is a salesman struggling to make ends meet and provide for his wife and son. When Chris’s career as a salesman continues to go downhill, his wife urges him to get another job, to try something else to support his already struggling family. Chris attempts to do this and he finds an opening for an internship position as a stockbroker. However, this position has no salary and Chris only has a one in twenty chance of getting an actual job. After Chris’s wife moves out, the movie focuses on him and his son as they try to survive in a world that continues to show more and more of its hard side. Chris and his son begin in their apartment but are soon forced to move to a hotel, when things get even worse, Chris is forced to sleep in a church shelter and then in a subway station bathroom. The scene where Chris and his son are in the bathroom is the one that got to me. Chris begins crying as a loud pounding starts on the other side of the locked door, the person on the other end demanding for the bathroom to be opened. With his son asleep in his arms, Chris does not make a sound and holds his foot against the door until the pounding stops. Chris continues to struggle throughout the film, but he does not give up. He fights jail time and being homeless and having no money and no food. Every day more things get in his way, in the way of his pursuit of happiness and his quest to get both himself and his family a better life, but every day Chris continues to push forward.
The movie has an effect on the viewer. Most movies I have seen recently do not have this, but I can honestly say that whoever sees this film will feel something. With most movies, you see it and then you walk away and go on with your life, but this film was not like that for me at all. As I watched it, I felt drawn into the world of Chris and his son. Will Smith’s acting surprised me and I believe it is one of his best performances, better than I, Robot or Men in Black without question. You felt for his character the whole time, and I think it’s because everyone has been there, everyone has struggled in some way, and this gave an inspiration in the way that no matter how bad things get, you should keep on trying, keep on fighting for another day because eventually it is all going to be worth it. As long as you don’t give up, you have the right to your own pursuit of happiness, whatever it may be. Chris Gardner had the right to give himself and his family a better life, the right to be happy and feel secure, and the right to give his son a chance for a better future. The movie had me crying and feeling sad when Chris would meet up with another obstacle and it gave me a really good feeling when Chris finally found the period in his life that he defined as true happiness. I left the theater feeling thankful for what I have in life, and most of all, thankful for my job and my continuing college education. I am more thankful now and content with my life after seeing this movie and it even made me feel like I want to do something to help people who do struggle. This film defined what the words “and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence really mean. The movie was a real ‘feel good’ film and I highly recommend it.
