The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)

When my wife first ordered, and, subsequently, watched this fim, she enthused and sung its praises. I thought that, it was not my 'cup of tea', so, I did not immediately watched it. Some time later, I did. I am not the type of person who cries. However, the scene of a father and child, trying to sleep inside a public lavatory, with someone banging incessantly on the door, blew me away. The camera, fixed upon the poor man's face, capturing the moment of misery, injustice and despair (through his silent tears) was, both; heart-wrenching and very real. I felt that I was him, inside that toilet, holding on to my son. Nothing more needs be added.

This was the best movie of 2006. It is the story of [my and] man men's lives who have a dream and persist through all types of adversity and hardship to realize it. Against all odds (a poor black man) and hitting the bottom of the bottom (homeless and raising a son), Will Smith's character does not give up and through sheer will power, ascends to a peak many of us more able will never attain (stockbroker for a major Wall Street firm).

If you have an entrepreneur in your family, buy this DVD, don't rent it. It will give them courage and hope in their darkest hours. One note of caution however: DO NOT BUY THE BOOK. Unfortunately, it turns out, nothing in the movie actually happened.

"The Pursuit Of Happyness" is an emotionally enriching cinematic experience. It's basically a tribute to the pursuing one's dreams despite the obstacles that are thrown in front of you and perservering in the end. Will Smith's Chris Gardner is an industrious chap with a lot of charm and savvy but suffers from a little misdirection. He begins the film peddling around San Francisco doctor's offices bone density scanners. This venture doesn't make him rich so he soon sets his goal on an internship with Dean Witter for a one-in-twenty shot at being a stockbroker. There are many pitfalls to attaining his dream. His wife recently left him with a five year old son to fend for. The internship is unpaid. He's evicted from a number of domiciles and at times forced to live in shelters and public bathrooms. Racism isn't really cited as a reason for Chris' predicament but there are subtle hints like when Dean Witter's instructor forces Chris to park his car. Despite it all Chris never wavers from his determination. Credit Will Smith for giving a full-bodied portrait of a man who wants his piece of the American Pie. Not to give anything away, the look on the face of Chris as he meets with the Dean Witter executives toward the films end will bring out the tear ducts. Jaden Smith, Will's real life son and his son in the film, gives a naturally charming and unaffected performance. "The Pursuit of Happyness" should soon be a bona fide word-of-mouth classic.

Holy Cow. I'm an old guy with a lot of movies behind me. I didn't know that a movie could still get to me like this one did.

Will Smith and his real life son Jaden Smith potray Chris Garder and his son Christopher in a moving story about surviving tough times and percevering. This displays how far the strong bond between father and son could take you in life, love helped them carry on. Chris knew that he had do something to make his son's future bright and he did just that! Check out this movie, anybody with a soul will be inspired!