The Pursuit of Happyness

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 15, 2006

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 401 Ratings

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KingChadDec 17, 2006

Two hours of mind blowing can you dump on me even more PLEASE. So Hollywood! It was so boring and depressing as we never even got to know the characters and the plot is too ridiculous to take seriously. Will was real smart to sell outdated Two hours of mind blowing can you dump on me even more PLEASE. So Hollywood! It was so boring and depressing as we never even got to know the characters and the plot is too ridiculous to take seriously. Will was real smart to sell outdated and expensive medical equipment that he has no formal training in and then takes a non paying trainee job in a market where only 5% succeed while he throws his hardworking wife under the bus. Gee, she must have been very bad to leave a loser like Will. Yes, Will you were very smart indeed to scar your wife and children for life. Give me a break.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

stuartDec 17, 2006

Money = happiness bull. Nice TV movie - hollow, pleasant enough, good acting. But the entire movie has no basis in reality. More capitalistic propaganda. Sorry not worth the time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SW.Dec 17, 2006

Will Smith's performance deserves an Oscar!...what a refreshing job of acting! Since this is a true story, we know the outcome, but how the character was built is the core of the movie. I agree with a previous post that Wall Street is Will Smith's performance deserves an Oscar!...what a refreshing job of acting! Since this is a true story, we know the outcome, but how the character was built is the core of the movie. I agree with a previous post that Wall Street is about greed and that men of color are discriminated...and I'm almost certain that in real life, Gardner himself was the victim of racial discrimation. The 80's was an era of social transformation when racial discrimination was coming to a serious frution within society, which wasn't completed until the late 80's-early 90's. I believe Hollywood wanted to make this a "feel good" movie rather than show the harshness of our society. Sadly, it only showed "money" is the "pursuit of happy-ness"...it was a very sad story that made me shed tears, but it also made a false impression. I've worked as a trader and find stockbrokers to be fast-talking self-centered ego-maniacs...but that's the nature of their job. I also find it hard to believe that Gardner's wife left without a hitch knowing she worked double shifts to keep her family alive when Gardner wasn't pulling his load. The story was quite riveting and inspirational, but it was also filmed in Hollywood-style, where stories are embellished without question. With a background in law and financing, I presume there is more to Gardner's real life, which was probably cut from the film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SidiotDec 17, 2006

Will Smith is a great likeable actor. In this fick his real life son makes his acting debut and you will love him to pieces. But this alone does not make a good movie. To the contrary, it is moronic film, very ameteurish, and not even Will Smith is a great likeable actor. In this fick his real life son makes his acting debut and you will love him to pieces. But this alone does not make a good movie. To the contrary, it is moronic film, very ameteurish, and not even believable. Will Smith shows poor judgment time and time again. He uses his life savings to buy and then resell medical equipment which is overpriced and outdated. The only characters of note are his angry wife, adorable son and the token rich white people whose characters are never developed except that they smile a lot and take their money for granted. The black community is a poor downtrodden group that is totally dependent on hand outs for their very survival. Will Smith gets a vapor lock and decides that he wants to apply for a one in 20 trainee job at Dean Witter. He has no formal college education and his sales expeience and investment advice is already on display as being very poor with his X-ray machine. For the next two hours he has snow shoveled on him from every conceivable angle until it consumes him in an avalanche. This movie is as depressing as can be and never explains why anyone would take a trainee job that doesn't guarantee a position and does not offer any type of compensation. A normal human being in Will Smith's position would never accept the job at the cost of his marriage or the safety of his family but that is exactly what he does. It portrays the nice folks at Dean Witter as rich buffoons who care nothing about others. Would anyone in human resources offer a trainee job without pay to a non college graduate without sales experience and no way to pay his bills? Would Dean Witter let a cold calling trainee go see a CEO of a major pension fund without a Senior Executive? Better yet would a CEO buy from a trainee without any experience or clientele in the first place? But this is some of the hogwash they try to push down the viewers the throat and some of you by your reviews buy into this dribble without even using the brain in your head. As for the predictable ending it is a huge letdown. Quite frankly this is terribly written and directed even if it is partially based on a true story.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BobR.Dec 16, 2006

The movie is indeed an incredible story of mans will to pursue his right for happiness, and to take care of his son. The amount of work and determination exerted is phenomenal and can be greatly admired in the film...I thought the film was The movie is indeed an incredible story of mans will to pursue his right for happiness, and to take care of his son. The amount of work and determination exerted is phenomenal and can be greatly admired in the film...I thought the film was slightly redundant however and lacked to really hit home emotionally except in a couple occasion. Overall good movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MattM.Dec 16, 2006

Will Smith somehow keeps you involved in this propaganda movie. This movie is ridiculous! the whole concept is that money is the only thing that makes you happy. With subliminal images of rich white people always smiling and living the Will Smith somehow keeps you involved in this propaganda movie. This movie is ridiculous! the whole concept is that money is the only thing that makes you happy. With subliminal images of rich white people always smiling and living the perfect lives with golden retrievers in their mercedes. I worked on wall street those people are greedy miserable jerks. for the most part. The idea of the story is great but poorly executed. The filmmaking concept of diminishing returns is very prevalent. You can't show the same thing happening to a character over and over and expect an emotional reaction. The audience gets used to nothing going right for this guy and it has no effect after a while. Will's brilliant acting gets a small amount of emotion at the end, but if the movie would of been about his work situation more and the threat of him not getting the job it would of had a chance to be really good. Overall: boring, good acting, but right wing capitalist propaganda.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JayC.Dec 16, 2006

I love Will Smith's acting and his son is very good, but this movie is just too depressing. It was all about the "pursuit" and almost nothing about the happYness. I agree with most of what was said by the 2 rating reviewer. It seems I love Will Smith's acting and his son is very good, but this movie is just too depressing. It was all about the "pursuit" and almost nothing about the happYness. I agree with most of what was said by the 2 rating reviewer. It seems unbelievable that someone can shoot them shelves in the foot so often. If he was so bright, why couldn't he just get a real job for awhile to keep his wife and family together when it was obvious the machines were poor sellers. It made me think the producers wanted to manipulate viewers into an unreal sympathy for the characters.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AgnesDec 16, 2006

I have to disagree with Mitch as it shows America's preoccupation only with itself and cares nothing for the less fortunate people of our wonderful country. Instead of focussing on just Will Smith take a look around at all the I have to disagree with Mitch as it shows America's preoccupation only with itself and cares nothing for the less fortunate people of our wonderful country. Instead of focussing on just Will Smith take a look around at all the impoverished people with no chance of climbing the ladder to success. As for the story itself there is no joy just a paradox of a confused man taking a job without pay at the cost of his marriage and the welfare of his son. It predictably turns out okay but it is ridiculous to even suggest that a trainee would be allowed to call on a CEO without the account being turned over to a Senior Executive. All these trainees do is cold call for the existing stockbroker, a fact that was not even mentioned in this depressing exaggerated movie. Yes, its a real tear jerker without even giving the audience a glimpse of the HappYness that is to come after getting the job. Not my cup of tea at all. Avoid.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

HassanDec 16, 2006

Just the same boring scene repeated over and over. We all know how it's going to end so why not explain the characters? Where are the friends and family. How do coworkers not understand the gravity of the situation and offer to help? Just the same boring scene repeated over and over. We all know how it's going to end so why not explain the characters? Where are the friends and family. How do coworkers not understand the gravity of the situation and offer to help? Who would invest money in a trainee without knowing the relationship will grow? The entire movie is preposterous from beginning to end. Awful!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

MitchM.Dec 16, 2006

This movie shows you why America is the greatest country in the world. And why those with integrity, compassion, and commitments to their families can succeed with hard work and drive. Smith is incredibly good. I haven't been touched by This movie shows you why America is the greatest country in the world. And why those with integrity, compassion, and commitments to their families can succeed with hard work and drive. Smith is incredibly good. I haven't been touched by a film in this way in a long time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ChadS.Dec 15, 2006

Things didn't come easily for Chris Gardner(Will Smith), and "The Pursuit of Happyness" has the patience, and more importantly, we have the patience, to sit through all of this man's ups and downs. The film does an excellent job of Things didn't come easily for Chris Gardner(Will Smith), and "The Pursuit of Happyness" has the patience, and more importantly, we have the patience, to sit through all of this man's ups and downs. The film does an excellent job of engrossing us in Gardner's failures(even Chris' hiring at Dean Whitter is played as a downer), because in a film like this, they're only delaying the inevitable. We know how it's going to end. At times, "The Pursuit of Happyness" doesn't feel like it was made by a major studio: case and point, the scene between Chris and Christopher(Jaden Smith) at the subway station. This movie isn't afraid to go nowhere. It meanders(in one scene, father and son end up at a shelter, only to be redirected to another shelter) a little. "The Pursuit of Happyness" feels, pardon the cliche, real. The rapport between both Smiths radiates a sense of actual familial love which nimbly transcends the potential for sentimentality. This is a feel-good movie in the very best sense.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AaronDec 15, 2006

predictable story about how much garbage you can eat without complaining. The ending was sadly lacking and there were no character development to explain the lack of family and friends. To be a successful stock broker you have to have onepredictable story about how much garbage you can eat without complaining. The ending was sadly lacking and there were no character development to explain the lack of family and friends. To be a successful stock broker you have to have one part used car salesmen and two parts attorney in you. Will Smith had neither.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

FantasyDec 15, 2006

[***SPOILERS***] I absolutely love Will Smith as an actor and I still do. But this is one very dark and depressing movie that has as many holes as swiss cheese regurgitating throughout the very long tedious depressing ordeal. Basically, Will [***SPOILERS***] I absolutely love Will Smith as an actor and I still do. But this is one very dark and depressing movie that has as many holes as swiss cheese regurgitating throughout the very long tedious depressing ordeal. Basically, Will Smith faces adverstity followed by more adversity followed by more adversity and so on. How long can an audience stay focused on only bad things without a ray of light at the end of the dark tunnel. But in the end the predictable happy ending lasts less than a nano second leaving the audience totally empty. There isn't even a glimpse of the good times other than a couple of sentences at the conclusion of the movie. As for the cast of characters there are really only three, Will, his wife, and his absolutely adorable real life son. If you are going to the movies for some holiday cheer you won't find any in this so-so depressing story. Bah Humbug!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

NathanL.Dec 15, 2006

Will Smith gives the performance of his career in this inspirational story of a man who overcame poverty to become a stock broker at Dean Witter Reynolds Brokeridge. This movie may beat you up for a good hour and a half, but you will come Will Smith gives the performance of his career in this inspirational story of a man who overcame poverty to become a stock broker at Dean Witter Reynolds Brokeridge. This movie may beat you up for a good hour and a half, but you will come out with the belief that if this man can make it anyone can. And that's good enough for me.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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