Gentle, funny, original and touching

Rating: 9/10 (16 January 2007)

When i first walked into this film my expectations were not high. I assumed it would be a very sentimental occasionally humorous, feel good film but in the end it became so much more.
Within about ten minutes I realized that I was in for a very special treat. Chris Gardner is a smart man, determined salesman, and a devoted father. However when his sales slowly decrease so does his money and he finds himself struggling to cope with his rent. On top of this he finds himself juggling his son (played by Jaden Christopher Syre Smith ) a stockbroker internship, and a life which ultimately is looking bleak and unfulfilled.
His determination to stay on top of life is uplifting. Will Smith portrays " Chris Gardner " in a way which I could never have seen him act. A surprise, but a very welcome surprise nonetheless. The movie is set into chapters of Chris's life. He is the narrator in places as well, where he talks about life, his story and the pursuit of happiness. Which is also the main message of the film, that happiness is something that cannot be found but merely pursued. There is perhaps only one negative point about this film. Which is at times it is a little clichéd. The whole idea has been done before and some parts are a tad predictable but to be honest i enjoyed this film so much i barely noticed. Instant Classic.