December 2, 2006 -- “The Pursuit of Happyness” is arguably the most depressing feel-good movie of the year. As you would expect, the Chris Gardner (based on a true story) character is triumphant in the end, but only after wallowing in frustration, self-pity, anger, shame, humiliation and a stunning array of setbacks for nearly two hours (it seemed longer). It was sort of like “The Passion of the Christ” in that the resurrection (Gardner's triumph) gets short shrift in favor of more flogging.

As Expected, Will Smith (“Hitch”) does a great acting job as Gardner and his real-life son, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, is just fine as Gardner's son, Christopher. Thandie Newton (“Mission Impossible II”) is suitably disgruntled as Gardner's long-suffering wife. The suits that Gardner works for are also convincingly clueless to Gardner's desperate situation.

Desperate for a better-paying job, Gardner makes an application for a stockbroker internship at Dean-Witter in San Francisco. Since the internship doesn't pay anything, Gardner ekes out a living selling portable bone density scanners to doctors during the hours he's not at the brokerage offices. When he loses his apartment lease and gets kicked out of his hotel for non-payment of rent, he and his son are homeless, living at a homeless shelter when they can get in line early enough to get into one. One night, they even spend a night in a subway restroom.

There is a scene where he gets hit by a car while running to work. Another scene where he has to pay a parking ticket for one of his bosses who asked him to park a car for him. Another scene where he has to loan his boss money for cab fare. These sums are pocket change for his bosses, but huge sacrifices for Gardner's microscopic budget. He also gets hit with an IRS audit and fine at the worst possible time. The list of indignities, humiliations, pain and suffering goes on and on.

Now you would think that Gardner's eventual triumph would be that much sweeter given the incredible adversity he had to overcome, but the triumph is too brief and I found myself too worn out from vicarious suffering to enjoy it. There is some humor in the film. It could have used more. It could have also used a least a little bit of gloating in victory. The amazing accomplishments of the real Mr. Gardner, however, are relegated mainly to a few notes in the end credits of the film. It is an amazing, Oscar-worthy performance by Will Smith, however, and it worth watching for that alone. Just don't expect a feel-good movie. This film rates a C+.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics, theater tickets and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2006 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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