The Pursuit of Happyness

What’s the Story?

Based on a true story and set in 1981 San Francisco, Pursuit begins as Chris Gardner (Will Smith) and his wife, Linda (Thandie Newton), are having troubles. She works double shifts doing hotel laundry; he's trying to sell bone density scanners (i.e., specialty medical machines that, as Chris admits in voiceover, are too expensive for most doctors to buy). When Linda abandons the family, Chris remains determined. He spends six months working in an unpaid internship at Dean Witter, dead set on becoming a stock broker. He's smart enough and good with numbers, he figures, having proved that much by solving a Rubik's cube in front of a Dean Witter broker. As he studies and scrapes by, barely earning enough each week to pay for meals, Chris is sure he's going to make it.

Is It Any Good?

Jaden Christopher Syre Smith is adorable. He delivers an endearing performance as Gardner's son, but unfortunately, young Jaden's very good work can't quite save the film's sentimental, simplistic structure. The concept of trust is central to Chris' self-image. In his voiceover, he unironically ponders the effective meritocracy of the American Dream, focused on Thomas Jefferson's phrasing in the Declaration of Independence. He's especially impressed that Jefferson was wise enough to see that the "pursuit" of happiness -- not happiness itself -- was all that might be deemed a right, at least for those considered entire people at the time (as opposed to, say, the 3/5ths people that slaves were determined to be).
It's useful for Chris' rather Reaganite worldview that the film doesn't deal with racism, on either institutional or individual levels. Instead, Pursuit of Happyness insists that all opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of class, education, or color. Chris repeatedly demonstrates a winning quickness and self-deprecating wit -- the movie, too often and slow-moving, isn't nearly as smart.