Trivial pursuit

Rating: 2/10 (13 January 2013)

I didn't like this Will Smith feature at all. Was there really a movie in Christopher Gardiner's story of his struggle to preserve his relationship with his infant son, while striving for a shot at making big money in the world of stockbroking...? After sitting through this sentimental, obviously Oscar-targeted mush, I certainly didn't think so. It has all the appearance of a vanity project for Smith and I'm not just referring to the obvious nepotism of advancing his young son to main supporting actor alongside him.
I see from the high IMDb score and indeed box office returns that this particular espousal of the American Dream found favour, principally, I would imagine with its home audience, but to me, it came across as corny, undramatic and ultimately boring.
You can see Smith putting out for the Academy pretty much all the way through, his son can't act either and by the time he gets his big break at the end, I just felt manipulated. Inspirational...? I didn't think so. And why a film set in 1981 relies so heavily on an early 70's soundtrack featuring classics from Stevie Wonder and George Benson only added to my confusion.
This film for me represents the worst of mainstream Hollywood, blatantly sentimental, heart-string tugging tosh of the worst kind.