Will Smith is in my Top 5 Favorite Actors list and has been ever since I saw Independence Day. I’ve always enjoyed his acting and his choice of movies. He just has “Blockbuster” written all over him. He commands a lot of attention with his vast resume of movies that he has acted in. It’s amazing that he can go from saving the world from aliens, to being Matt Damon’s caddy, to saving the world again but this time from robots, to portraying one of the greatest boxers in my lifetime, to being the last man on earth and saving the world from blood seeking zombies, to playing Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who decides that happiness is worth sacrificing everything for and pursues his dream.
This movie was hard to watch. Literally, when it was over I felt exhausted. I felt used up. It was like I had spent every emotional “dollar” that I had and when it was all said and done, I was broke. Every time the scene changed, I almost feared what would happen next, I mean, could it get any worse? How much more can one man go through? Surely something good is about to happen, right? These were all questions I was asking myself during this film, secretly hoping that around the corner would come the bright light that would take Will away to a better place.
What I thought really added to the overall depressing and hopeless feel of the movie was the colors the director chose to use throughout the film. The suits the people wore, the brightness of the lights, the colors of the walls, they were all very boring and dull and monotone, and I really liked that. It really served as a great lens to see the movie through. A great scene to me was when Will’s character was told that he had to paint his apartment walls white to prolong paying his rent, because I thought it was a great metaphor for what kind of bright and pure person Chris Gardner was where ever he went. From his wife leaving, to him being thrown out on the street, to sleeping in a bathroom, to being hit by a car, to going all over town to sell overpriced scanning equipment and getting rejected left and right, through all of that, he had this huge smile on his face. He always said, “It’s going to be alright.”
One of the most touching and haunting scenes in the entire movie is when Will and his son have to spend the night (unbeknownst to his son) in the subway bathroom, and before they get there, Will pretends with his son that they have been transported through time to when the dinosaurs existed. I loved watching them play this scene out, and I loved Jaden’s reactions, where at first he didn’t believe because all he saw was a subway station, but because of his Dad’s belief, his Dad’s enthusiasm, his Dad’s passion, his Dad’s excitement, he came to believe that they were truly in a land with dinosaurs. That was such a high moment in the film that was soon followed by probably the most low point in the film when they are sleeping in the men’s bathroom and Will was holding the door closed with his foot while tears streamed down his face. I about lost it at that scene.
The last 10 minutes of the movie are some of the most emotional minutes in the entire film. The only thing that I was a little bothered by was that there wasn’t enough time to celebrate. [spoiler] The entire movie built up to this point, this critical point where we find out that he got the job he worked SO hard for, and we as the audience were only given about 8 minutes to celebrate with Will and Jaden. I wanted more. I wanted to cry more, and I wanted to see more of Will’s emotions, to see the explosion of joy that was sure to come over him.[/spoiler]
This is definitely a movie that I want to buy and have in my home to remind me that if I am passionate about something, I need to give everything I have in order to pursue it.
Content Warning: This movie is rated PG-13 for some language and it’s not that noticeable and in fact, I actually forgot that it even had any language. I’m not sure why it’s PG-13 for just language, but I can assume that it’s because of the depravity and the degree of depression that Will Smith goes through that may make it a little too much for the little ones.
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Donna
We both love Will Smith also. But we are so used to his action-packed movies we were unsure of this character-driven movie. I agree it was very emotional in a sad way until the very end and you are right, there isn’t much time to celebrate it. I immediately went on the computer to look up the main character though as it got me interested in him and his life so that was kinda cool. Will Smith is one of a few actors that I will go to a movie because he is in it!!!
February 21, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Dan
I agree, anything that he does, I’m usually interested in right away. There’s something about the value of the movie that he does that’s intriguing.
(let’s not count wild wild west)
February 21, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Scotto
I too drained so much emotion just watching this movie. I really questioned…”Does stuff like this really happen to people?”
I was challenged as a father to care for my children the way that Will Smith’s character cared for his son. I think that having Jaden portray the man’s son made this movie. I think that brought out the emotional side for Will Smith. I mean we all say that we would do anything for our kids, but would we? Could I or anything go through what that man did and be able to smile when our son comes around? Would I have the perseverance to endure the long hours, lack of a paycheck, and the responsibilities of parenthood. It’s easy “yes” when I have a paycheck, a good job, and kids that have things to do during the day.
I think that Hollywood needs to make more “real life” movies. Some of the movies are too fantasy or too far-fetched. I believe that people need to be taught that when times get tough…dont give up! Keep working, keep fighting…and good things will happen!
Dont get me wrong…I still want the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and movies that make us dream, but more real life movies without over the top politics or religious opinions would be a nice treat.
And FYI, if your spouse is away…dont watch this by yourself! My wife was out of the country and all of my thoughts began..”if she dies or gets stranded, this could become my life.” That thought made me cry!
February 26, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Dan
What an excellent point Scotto! As I sat and watched this movie, I was picturing how I would be a father. The sacrifice, the consistency of discipline and teachings, the humility…man, that’s the kind of parenting we need modeled. Not the Jessica Simpson-parenting or the Lindsay Lohan-type parenting that’s splashed all over the news…that’s not what I want my kids to see.
I love when Will Smith realizes that he just gave his son canned cliche advice on the basketball court about not playing too much and studying more, and the way he just humbly reverses direction and tells his son to never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something!
February 26, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Scotto
Agreed. I think that more people need that encouragement! I know I do!
February 27, 2008 at 10:36 am
Vivian(the wife)
Great review! I felt glad that Chris got the job, but I felt sad still for all the other homeless or jobless people who’s stories weren’t ok in the end. You forgot to include a spoiler warning at the end, hope no one read this that hadn’t seen it yet!
March 2, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Matt Algren
I totally agree with you on the amount of celebration. We got 1:50 of dark and depressing and (less than) ten minutes of payoff. Not nearly enough for me.
I also took issue with the way Chris got ahead. That is, dishonestly.
That Jaden Smith, though. He’s a cutie.
April 18, 2008 at 11:19 am
Claire Moviepilot
I usually do not like Will Smith but this movie is just totally different from any of his usual action movies missing emotion.
The Pursuit of Happyness is full of emotion, and it portrays the reality of so many people in such a real way (very different from usual “poor-minorities-in-america movies”), it doesn’t feel forced, exagerated or over-played.
I think the whole point in not getting celebration time is that this is not the usual hollywood everything-will-be-alright movie with the music and the sunset, it makes you think about the people that don’t get that chance in the end, as you say Vivian, and also that it’s not over, his life and hard work continues.
The only thing i was a bit sceptical about was that it is a very American point of view in that if you work hard enough, you will find happiness (sorry i am European and we don’t always believe that work is the centre of success, or at least we have different difinitions of success). That is the only downpoint of the movie, but otherwise i think the message is solid and many people should see this movie to open their eyes a little bit.
Good review, thanks!
July 23, 2009 at 5:54 am