Rocky Meets Kramer Vs Kramer meets Wall Street (with a heart)

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2006)

From the opening shots of urban San Francisco poverty to the taxi cab with the ad for "Raging Bull" plainly displayed, "Happyness" weaves an accurate heart wrenching tale of the the triumph of the individual, the triumph of sticking to one's goals despite overwhelming odds.
There are so many poignant scenes in this film that ring true in incredibly insightful ways for anyone that has "been there" The look in the eyes of the protagonist's wife as he explains how things "will get better" financially cuts like a knife for any man who has had the same conversation with his wife or girlfriend. You can tell that she stopped believing long ago and only now are her emotions matching her outward display toward her husband. Will Smith is terrific cast against type as a hard working down and out Medical Equipment salesman who one day sees a stock broker pull up in the fanciest of cars. At that moment he knows what he wants to be and the barriers before him will be conquered, one way or another.
Many critics on the left have attacked this film. The fact that Will Smith is an outspoken Republican and that the film places financial success as the ultimate form of human achievement (that and being a good Dad)may rub them the wrong way. It shouldn't. There is nothing overtly political about this film and it really shouldn't be missed for any reason. It looks like the Best Actor category is crowded this year but it would take a miracle for Will Smith not to get nominated. Some may carp that the supporting performances are nothing special but that is because there really are no supporting performances. No other Actor gets great lines to work with but they all acquit themselves just fine. The real co-star is the city by the bay which looks alternatively beautiful and frightening. Given what it costs just to live in San Francisco it would probably be the worst city to be poor in. Overall this is a very fine film, a film that is perfect family viewing, especially for kids who may not be getting as many Christmas presents this year as they thought they should.