Will Smith plays Gardner and Smith’s real-life son, Jaden, is a scene-stealer as Gardner’s son Christopher. A failing salesman, Gardner stumbles upon the opportunity to become an intern for a major financial firm. The only problem is there’s no salary, and Gardner is beyond poor and determined to raise his son after his fed-up wife leaves them. The story is often bleak. Dad and 5 year old spend nights in homeless shelters and everyone from landlords to so-called friends turn their backs on them. But Gardner’s drive to continue to believe in himself and a better future for his son are inspiring. There is no earnestness about the film. There’s no Rocky-style cheesy build-up with music or falsely staged climax. It simply unfolds and breaks your heart and and then fills it with happiness, spelled properly.
If there is a weak spot it’s Thandie Newton who overacts quite remarkably as Chris’s wife and chews up the scenery of the first act, presumably in an attempt to retain some attention on herself in the face of the Smith powerhouses. It’s as if she’s got “Academy Award nomination” on her mind the whole time. Her flaring nostrils and quivering upper lip are busy enough to be a separate character. She’s overwrought and over the top and it’s a relief when she finally leaves. Watching her I actually thought to myself, “will you just GO already?”
I expect the Academy to nominate Will, who is perfect as the desperate Dad and perhaps even Jaden, who’s is a chip off the old block. This kid is so natural and magnetic – you can see why he got the role apart from his DNA.
The Pursuit of Happyness is mostly a terrific film made even better by knowing that a real man actually lived this life and kept his optimism and ambition despite incredible odds against him.