Just falls short of greatness...truly uplifting and touching but yet lacks great heart

Rating: 7/10 (18 December 2006)

This unfortunately for the most part turned out to be the kind of film where the truly moving and important parts were used up in the trailer which definitely gets you rushing out to see it and I must stress that I don't mean to downplay the story or the message because there is something powerful and meaningful to it and Will Smith is brilliant but I just didn't feel the intense heart in the film that I expected. I don't know if it was the direction or the story or what it was but it lacked that little touch that made the film truly brilliant. I felt like the story dragged a lot and it wasn't smooth or well put together for the most part despite it's message, moral and strong lead actor.
I have never doubted Will Smith as a serious actor. I have always enjoyed his performances from slapstick comedy, to action, to serious roles like his under rated performance as 'Ali' and The Pursuit of Happiness certainly displays his talents. Smith plays the lead role of determined father, husband and man Chris Gardner. Now Gardner is a man who has chased dreams and never gotten them fulfilled. He lost his life savings in a face down business venture that he STILL believes in and cares about, he is stuck in a relationship with a woman who doesn't believe in him or support him, and yet it doesn't slow him for a minute in chasing another dream that does indeed work for him after a struggle unlike anything before. The true underlying message of the film is that you don't ever give up on your dreams no matter what the cost and his dream almost costs him everything...in fact does for a lot of time. But Gardner never stops fighting, never stops trying despite desperation and homelessness and trying his very best to raise his son. Smith is inspirational and important and single handedly makes this film worth while despite a sub par script. Jaden Smith (Will Smith's real life son) premiers as Gardner's young son who doesn't really ever understand his circumstances but loves his father unconditionally and does see what his father is doing. Both father and son go through so much and give up so much of what they both love to accomplish something bigger. One of the stranger things is I expected an unmistakable and real bond between Father and son and I just didn't feel it. There wasn't reality there and I had hoped for more. However Jaden does a great job in his first role opposite his Dad. Thandie Newton plays a graciously small role as Smith's wife who is working herself to the bone to support them but comes across as whiny and unappreciative and doesn't want to chase anything but survival for them to barely get along. She quickly and rather shamelessly gives up her son for a job in New York. Newton looks awful, worn out, overworked, exactly what the role called for but I still always find Newton hard to swallow in her roles so it's good that the role is small. The rest of the cast is barely visible except in small doses and the entire story revolves around Gardner's determination and survival.
That being said I think is one of the films drawbacks. The entire hope and heart of the film rests on Will Smith. Not that he can't pull that off but the film needed more talent, it needed some strong supporting characters and actors and there wasn't any. The biggest supporting actor was a brand new 7 year old who is good but not that good. I can't honestly say I've seen too many Italian films but perhaps Italian director Gabriele Muccino's style is just different and slower paced but I found the story dragged a little and made too much focus on the already obvious point. All this aside the film has some truly moving moments and really does make you look at the life of a homeless person in a completely different light. The film will pull at your heart strings and I think it's an important film, and a great Will Smith movie where he deserves some critical attention but not necessarily awards. It's good but it could have been outstanding. Still well worth seeing right now!! 7/10