Cliché and disillusion of the American Dream for a poor black guy

Rating: 3/10 (5 April 2010)

Social critic showing the melancholic misery of a poor young black entrepreneur and his sweet son - well, this cliché is nothing new as we take a look at the number of brilliant novels or movies that have been made around and about this topic.
Will Smith tries to wash away his vocation of a funny comedian or hero in some silly action movies or rap video clips and wants absolutely to do a serious, intellectual movie. Well, he should have stayed in the genre where he is brilliant and where he has made so many fans. This movie is worth a discussion about society and maybe interesting for some politicians or populists who dislike some things of the so-called American Dream. If you want to be entertained, you will be disappointed, because the movie has a very slow development, a very depressive and sad atmosphere, a story full of clichés without any surprises and everything is focused on the acting of Will Smith, while all other actors stay superficial. Will Smith is doing an unexpected, but very well job, but the problem is that the movie is too focused on the bad things about life, too straight in one direction, too closed-minded, too old-fashioned, too slow and boring and without any surprises.
If you like this kind of depressive atmosphere and want to get inspired for the creation of a better world, this one could be interesting for you. If you want to share a movie with your friends, get entertained or amused, forget about it.
If you like this one, go also for the Quebecker movie "L'âge des ténèbres". If you don't like it, but you're interested in a similar story, go for the classic "A raisin in the sun".