The title of this film is taken from the misspelt graffiti on the wall next to the daycare center where Will Smith leaves his young son each working day. His character interprets this line from the Declaration of Independence as meaning that happiness is not a God-given right but something that must be actively pursued. And boy does he actively pursue it in this movie!
When wife Thandie Newton walks out on Smith who is unable to sufficiently provide for her and their son, he not only insists upon keeping the boy with him but also drags him from pillar to post until a happier future is ensured. This movie is intended to be morally uplifting and moving and to demonstrate that the American Dream can be a reality, but possibly because I knew upfront that the film would finish with the requisite happy ending, I found it just a wee bit difficult to root for the determined Smith. Now there is no denying that he is an able and likeable actor and that he probably totally deserved the Oscar nod that he had for this role, but the movie was in fact a little depressing at times, as the brave young kid -- beautifully played by Smith's own son -- loses increasingly less satisfactory homes and has to spend his nights in homeless shelters or even worse in toilets. All the while Smith is putting on a brave front at his six-month stockbroking internship, refuses to let on the difficulties he is encountering, and continues to believe in their future I suppose the fact that he needs to produce a series of white lies to appease his mentors is neither here nor there when one is searching for one's dream.
2 comments:
I remember hearing the iterviews for this - it did sound impressive the faher/son relationship both on and off screen - and a good marketing point as well. He definitely brings verve to his roles, and interviews too. Maybe we could all do with a couple of happy endings every once in a while, just occasionally.
If this film is true to the autobiography on which it is based and if the latter is an
accurate portrayal of what happened, I am hornswoggled. As if buying some odd
piece of medical equipment to resell at a profit was not enough, getting accepted
by Dean Witter as an intern is laughable. The firm came across as an upmarket
boiler room which I do not think it is and the plot was rather reminiscent, without
the competitive element and Jamie Lee Curtis's breasts, of 'Trading Places'
without the humour.
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