>>REVIEW
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
STARRING: Will Smith, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith and Thandi Newton DIRECTED BY: Gabriele Muccino
Now playing
Check listings
This is the part of my life I like to call "writing my review."
There’s a point in every person’s life when he or she looks back at a time when they felt that they had all the potential in the world and their whole life ahead of them to use it. For some, the realization of those past dreams came true, but for many it’s a coulda, shoulda, woulda scenario. The Pursuit of Happyness tells the story of a man coming to terms with the latter and how he tries to create the better life he knows he can have.
After seeing the trailers and TV spots, there’s going to be a whole lot of people heading into theatres prepared to see an emotionally draining film about a man and his son trying to make their way in the world but finding themselves at the bottom of the barrel. Plenty will be packing handfuls of Kleenex only to find out that it won’t be as necessary as they may think.
That’s the biggest surprise about director Gabriele Muccino’s film – subtleness in substitute of overtly emotionally provoking scenes. Granted the film has its moments of teary eyes, but it never goes overboard with sentimentality or heart-string tugging. There are struggles for the father and son and tough times, but it’s shown with a certain matter-of-factness that makes you think about it and appreciate it instead of crying over it. There’s a look into the world of the homeless and downtrodden, but it never beats you over the head with a preachy message. It’s not about getting the audience to change the world, but instead it’s about seeing how one man changed his and maybe realizing their own potential to change theirs if needed.
Will Smith does an admirable job playing Gardner, giving audiences a portrayal of a man torn between fighting for his future while surviving in the present. Making things even more interesting is the fact that his own son Jaden, in his film debut, plays Gardner’s son and does a fantastic job stepping into the spotlight with dad. |
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.