Can the love for his son and the want of a better life hold solo-dad Chris Gardner together as he struggles to support himself and his son on the road to happyness?
 
Pursuit of Happyness – Things Get Tough
The going gets rough for Chris Gardner (Will Smith) who was a bright boy with a bright future when he was in high school, but never pursued his dreams. He can’t sell his portable bone density scanners which he invested all his money into, but when his frustrated, unhappy wife Linda (Thandie Newton) leaves, Chris is given the sole responsibility of caring for his 5–year old son Christopher (played by Will’s real son Jaden Smith). In the hopes to find a successful career, he applies for an internship at Dean Witter to be a stock-broker. And it seems as if he has no chances of getting in until he stuns the head of the program by solving the Rubik’s Cube in mere moments in the back of a taxi. But there is one catch; the internship does not pay. Things are not going well at home, either, and after months of not paying their rent, Chris and his son are kicked out of their apartment to live in a Motel 6.
 
Pursuit of Happyness – Pursuing the Dream
Now, Chris is going to work everyday as well as picking up son. In his spare time he sells his portable bone density scanners to support them. Things are looking good, until he forgets to pay his taxes and all of a sudden he is broke. Cast into homeless shelters, Chris works all day, and fixes his scanners at night. With untiring determination he gets through the days with support from a church called GLIDE and undying love for his endearing son. Although, the days are stressful and Chris is constantly stressed, he is always gentle with his son. Father and son show extreme comfort and affection for each other and are always a comfort for the other. Soon the day comes when one intern will be chosen to work as a real employee. This last scene breaks through the hardness of the rest of the movie as Chris finds his way along the Pursuit of Happyness.
 
Pursuit of Happyness – Bottom Line
I thought that this movie was really inspiring; there were laughing moments and crying moments and the realistic emotions depicted in the movie played out clearly on the audience’s faces. Will Smith did a fantastic job of playing Chris Gardner as a charismatic, persevering, loving father, and the connection between him and his adorable son showed strongly. Chris Gardner was constantly running, however, and I thought that there should have been less running scenes and more scenes with his son. I also think that the ending should not have been so rushed and the happy ending not so fleeting. But overall this was a two thumbs up movie!!!
Jackie gives Happyness two thumbs up!!!