| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| Spin on Entertainment |
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| Movie Review |
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The Pursuit of Happyness
- In theaters December 15th 2006
- Rated PG-13 for some language
- RunTime: 117 min
- Website
- Matt's rating - 4 out of 5
Matt's Review
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is a phrase
in the United States Declaration of Independence.
They are our "inalienable rights" and what we as
Americans hold to. Notice that happiness is not
guaranteed in this statement. The world, the
government, society as a whole does not owe any of
us a great life. But we have every opportunity to
pursue that happiness with every fiber of our being.
Real life stock broker Chris Gardner did that very
thing in 1981. His story is told in the new movie aptly
titled, “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
Gardner (Will Smith) is at the end of his marriage, his
bank account and his rope. He risks even the little he
has left when he takes on an unpaid, 6 month
internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm. We
watch Chris try to take care of his 5 year old son
(Jaden Smith) on the streets of San Francisco,
holding on to his dream and his desire to make a
better life for him and his son. We stress out with
him as he balances the cut throat internship where
only one intern will be given a paying job and the
rest are back to square one. While most are working
nine and ten hour days Chris has to leave early every
day to make sure he is in line at the homeless shelter
to keep from sleeping on the streets. That is the
mountain he must climb.
The Pursuit of Happyness teams up real life father
and son, Will and Jaden Smith. Their off screen
bound brings much warmth and realness to this film
and really solidifies the moments they share on
screen. Gardner did everything for his son and you
can see that same love and devotion in Will Smith as
well. Jaden holds his own with his blockbuster father
and you can tell some of that parental talent was
passed on. Sorry to say but most child actors can
drag down a movie because they have yet to learn
how to be in character and usually deliver their lines
like a bad 1st grade Easter Pageant. Jaden is totally
relaxed as if he had been doing this his whole life.
<click
here to listen to Will Smith talk about working with
his son.>
This film is emotional and thought provoking on many
levels. It’s the human struggle displayed in 117
minutes of screen time. You will look at your own life
and wonder if you have in you what Chris did. It will
make you pick up those dusty dreams you shelved
away at the back of your brain and encourage you to
give them another shot. Many of those dreams may
not be as grandiose as Gardner’s but the size of the
dream is not important. It’s the size of the will. Rated
PG-13 for some language. It is an inspirational story
for the whole family and while those under 13 may be
lost in the drama everyone else will find something
grand to take from the film. I give The Pursuit of
Happyness 4 out of 5 shots. Know before you go, I’m
Matt Mungle
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Mungleshow Productions
Matt Mungle
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