The Pursuit of Happyness
By Cynthia Fuchs,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspirational but often emotionally wrenching story.

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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The Pursuit of Happyness
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Based on 16 parent reviews
that kid'll getcha
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Real Life Issues - Refreshing break from anthromorphism and fantasy
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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 (Thandiwe 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 Smith is adorable; he delivers an endearing performance as Gardner's son, Christopher, in what turns out to be a simple, sentimental, but ultimately inspiring movie. The film deals with the American Dream from a particular perspective, focusing, as the title implies, on the constitutional right to "pursue" happiness, rather than the right to be happy. In this manner, the movie is able to avoid focusing much on institutional racism and how that factors into achieving the Dream. Instead, the relationship between father and son, through all the ups and downs of family strife and economic instability, take center stage, with lovely results.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of stories like Chris'. Why do people like rags-to-riches tales? Why are they considered good material for movies? How close do you think the movie version is to the true story?
Families can also talk about the risks that Chris takes to provide a "better life" for his son. How does the movie show that little Christopher is both scared of having no place to sleep, but also utterly trusting of his dad? Is it OK that Chris tells a white lie in front of his son to get a job?
How does the film portray the decision by Christopher's mother to leave him? From whose point of view do you see this choice?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 14, 2006
- On DVD or streaming: March 27, 2007
- Cast: Jaden Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Will Smith
- Director: Gabriele Muccino
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 117 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some language.
- Award: Common Sense Media Award
- Last updated: April 5, 2023
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