Will Smith sells "Happyness"

Rating: 8/10 (23 April 2007)

Italian director Gabriele Muccino's first English language film "The Pursuit of Happiness" weaves the tale of Chris Gardner, a man of strong ambition and drive, but little to show for it besides an unhappy marriage and a struggling door-to-door sales business. When his wife leaves him with their five-year-old things go from bad to worse, but with the love of his son and his eye on the proverbial prize his hope is high. The film has a classic depression era Hollywood feel that thankfully escapes most of the usual pretense often associated with mainstream Hollywood's attempts at social conscience film-making. Will Smith's lead performance is striking, quite endearing, and a reminder why he appears underutilized in such overblown Hollywood set pieces as "I Robot" and "Men in Black II". His performance, as well as his real life son's presence, helps to capture the viewer's heart with such a strong emotional line that we're so deeply involved in the story that the cloying melodrama feels genuine and the flawless reactionary main character feels human. This is bittersweet, uplifting, inspirational film-making at its current best.