The American political system has a lot to answer for.

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2011)

Contrary to the reviews I have already read, I really did not know what to make of this film based on a true story, although I do believe that Will Smith's performance was superb.
The Pursuit of happiness played against a background of modern, free enterprise America, yet there are soup kitchens and clear signs of other deprivation, I believe I caught a glimps of a man lying on the streets, and people were litrally walking past him.
In my view, the soup kitchens, the homelessness, the deprivation across the USA, and the apathy that supports it, are the real story here, and as such need addressing through the American media, but are they being addressed ?????????.
Modern America is the archetype of how "not" to run a country, because people have a "right" to a decent reasonably paid job, and affordable housing, yet the underclass shown in this film courtesy of Will Smith's travels are being deprived of their human rights.
I can understand the Hollywood moguls wanting to make a film about people who strive against the odds to better their lives, because Hollywood are part of the so-called American dream, yet in the 20's, 30's, and 40's, Hollywood itself treated those who worked in it, like virtual slaves, because they wanted to sell a product for their American audiences, who were, and still are, trying to achieve their own American dream.
Whilst I do take my hat off to the real life character played by Will Smith, and what this guy achieved in real life, this man was clearly an exception to the rule.
Most people in free market America, as here in England due to the same marked based system, live in fear of losing their jobs, their homes, their very livelyhoods, because these are all the downside of a low tax economy free market culture.
I found "The pursuit of Happiness" depressing, but I kept with it so I could write this honest review.
I am not giving this film 10 stars. I am giving Will Smith's gripping performance 10 stars.
And I pour shame on America who have the Statue of Liberty as their hallmark of "Liberty".
Because frankly there is no liberty, or human rights in America, people can have it all one moment, then lose everything the next.