A Movie For Its Times (And Perhaps Beyond)

Rating: 7/10 (1 March 2017)

Back in 2006 when this film was released, the United States economy was headed towards the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930's. "The Pursuit of Happiness" is a reflection of those hard times.
For a basic plot summary, this movie (based on a true story) focuses on Chris Gardner (Will Smith), a salesman who can't seem to make ends meet. His products are not selling and his wife Linda (Thandie Newton) wants to leave him. Caught in the middle is young son Christopher (Jaden Smith). In a sort of last gasp effort to make a better life for his family, Chris decides to accept an internship as an investment banker under the tutelage of Jay Twistle (Brian Howe). It is truly a make-or-break effort that will require even more sacrifice in the short term. as the internship is unpaid (but may lead to stable employment).
The themes central to this film are ones that most viewers can relate to: working hard, making sacrifices for family, and contemplating the hard choices in life. This is why the movie packs such an emotional punch. We all see (or would like to see) a little bit of ourselves in Chris Gardner, and that makes us root for him to succeed in life all the more. His seemingly endless setbacks only deepen that emotional connection.
It helps that the acting in "Pursuit of Happiness" is top-notch, with the crown jewel being the chemistry between Will Smith and real-life son Jaden. Theirs are the emotional backbones of the story, to be sure. In recent years, Will Smith has seen his career hit a significant snag, but rest assured that this is him at the top of his acting game.
"Pursuit of Happiness" is also able to connect with viewers on a personal, day-to-day level. Perhaps in a future United States where the economy improves, these themes won't be so readily apparent. But even now (and especially in 2006) those hard choices that Chris must make I'm sure mirrored many individuals in America. Tapping into current culture can be a powerful thing on the big screen, and this film realizes that potential to the max.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this viewing experience. It isn't quite good enough to go into my "All Time Favorites" category, but it easily does enough things write to be an emotional, meaningful film.