Excellent portrayal of the true story of a father, his son, and their year long struggle to make it off the streets and find happiness

Rating: 9/10 (4 October 2016)

The Pursuit of Happiness is a movie full of non-stop misfortunes and unexpected turns, but it proves there's always light at the end of the tunnel. Director, Gabrielle Muccino, does a fine job on all aspects of creating a movie that touches the heart and inspires the viewer. Actor, Will Smith, plays the leading role as Chris Gardner. The plot is in the title, the movie follows the true story of the yearlong struggles of Gardner, a salesman who lost it all and risks everything to get him and his son off the streets to eventually find happiness. It is the story of a true American dream, and this movie does an excellent job portraying it.
After spending all of his savings on something he thinks will carry him through retirement, Gardner ends up in a doomed situation. He can't make any sales, dragging his family into deep debt. After his wife leaves him and his son, he has to quickly start plan B, attempting a career in stock broking. It's a huge risk, but his only chance to make it big without a college degree. They say all you need to know is numbers and how to work with people, and that's exactly what he knows. It's a never ending battle with money issues, built up expenses, and just simply bad luck. It is inevitable that Gardner and his son are forced to move on the streets. This is where the movie really takes a toll on the viewers. With every down there's an up, and vice versa.
If it wasn't for the "based on a true story" claim, it wouldn't be as inspiring as it is. Today, it almost seems impossible to make it from the bottom to the top. Some of the details of the movie seemed almost too unrealistic and dramatized, which they probably were. Like every Hollywood movie, the "based" part should be strongly emphasized. When the real story isn't effective enough, producers often tweak it to make it more appealing for the viewers. This is why documentaries aren't necessarily something everyone is dying to see. However, the overall point was made, and the message was well received.
Overall, the film was well put together; every scene was something as important to the plot as the last. The narration done by Smith made the movie more of a story, and was a very nice touch to the overall effectiveness of the plot. The tone of the narration was calm and smooth, for it didn't seem rehearsed, but rather just known. He was telling his own story, one that only he experienced.
Will Smith was nominated for best actor, as he should have. With every dramatic pause and tear, he makes the audience feel connected to the character. As if when he was telling his own son to be strong and brave, he was actually telling the viewers. Maybe it was the fact that Smith's son, Jayden Smith, was playing the role of Gardner's son, but the chemistry between the two were undeniable.
This heartwarming film, though only heartwarming until the final ten minutes, did a spectacular job portraying the story of how an unlucky, blue-collar man and his son went from poor conditions to absolute hell, yet made it out and eventually found happiness. It is a must see for those who need a little pick me up. Out of all the poverty we see, it's nice to know that once in a while, with enough faith and hard work, it can be defeated.