Good Acting - But Is happiness equated with posterity?

Rating: 3/10 (2 January 2007)

I was generally pleased with the acting by Will Smith and supporting cast in the movie. His character was fairly realistic. However, I was expecting more in the way of a story. Several things in the movie really bothered me.
**** SPOILERS APLENTY FOLLOW **** I went to the movie expecting a depiction of a man who overcame homelessness and sadness and worked hard to become successful. (Maybe as a doctor or social worker or Teacher) Having watched "Blood Diamond" last week where death, torture and greed and mayhem ran rampant, I could not bring myself to feel sad for Chris and his son's homelessness / plight. However, I was really saddened that the man found success as a stockbroker in a boiler room. Does this make people happy in the US? Are we capitalistic Americans expected to fall prey to the capitalistic ideology where money = happiness? Did becoming a stockbroker make him happy because he became rich? A few acquaintances of mine are brokers and I know this is a high pressure job with long hours that tends to fully consume people. Does he really need a Lamborghini / Ferrari to feel happy. The movie shows Chris's bio after he got the job when the movie was over. However several key questions were unanswered. What happened to Chris's son? What happened to his Wife? The movie stopped when he got the job. Also Based upon his lifestyle, Chris Gardner and his wife could have made rent / food working part time at a 7-11. Many immigrants start out making ends meet doing menial jobs and are quite happy. Chris mentioned that he was the man with the "Ten Gallon Head" growing up (i.e. a brainiac) but what let him to skip college, hook up with his chain smoking wife and sell bone scanners? I think the audience is owed more information. I would really like to know how much of the story is real?