Unseen Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness

By Robert Dixter Dec 10, 2006, 3:37 GMT

Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a bright and talented, but marginally employed salesman. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go.  When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the two of ...more

Will Smith is the biggest star in the world. How do I know? Because Oprah told me and anything Oprah says is the bible on how to live your life.  Also, he was able to take a romantic comedy called ‘Hitch’ and gross more money internationally than he did domestically. The film ended up making $188 million overseas compared to $179 million in the U.S. 

Usually American comedies travel as well as George Bush’s foreign policy, but not when Big Willie’s starring. We all knew Will could open an action film, but now we know he can open comedies too. 

What is it about Will that people flock to him? If you’ve ever met him or seen him in an interview you know that he’s just so likable.

He’s never too serious, is always the first to laugh at himself and is very good at putting you at ease. He seems like the fun guy at the party. You know the guy, everyone wants to be his friend even if he doesn’t have killer good looks, earns $25 million dollars per picture and has ears that allow him to pick up Direct TV for free.

In fact, Will is so likable and has become so big that I think this may actually hurt his career (or at least where he wants to take it based on his new movie). People know and love Will for being Will. They know he’ll save the day, defeat the aliens and win the girl.

So will they believe Will can be an unemployed homeless single dad? In his new film ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ that’s exactly what Will wants you to think.

The film is based on the true story of Chris Gardner and from the promos it looks like Will is giving it his all. Kind of like when Jim Carrey did ‘The Truman Show’ or Shannon Elizabeth made me believe she really was a foreign exchange student in ‘American Pie.’  (Ok, maybe not that last one).

This isn’t the first time Will has stepped out from behind the spaceship to try his hand at the hard drama. He did such a good job with Ali that he received an Oscar nomination. 

But with Ali he had Michael Mann guiding him, and we all know what a nutty perfectionist Mann can be.  Can you believe he really wanted to shoot Miami Vice in Miami?  Talk about Hollywood excess! 

In ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ Will was directed by Gabriele Muccino who has never really taken on a star of Will’s size.

But Will is Will and you know as a viewer he will, as the cheerleaders say, “bring it”.

Also, I could never turn down those ears.  So sign me up to see ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ and I’m sure Will will please the crowds in this feel good movie. 

But that said, Will, please get back to saving the earth, blasting aliens and tossing off lines like “You have so got to die!”