The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Directed by Gabriele Muccino. Starring Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Brian Howe, Thandie Newton, Dan Castellaneta, James Karen, Kurt Fuller, Mark Christopher Lawrence. [PG-13]

Dour, contrived drama, loosely inspired by and condensed from a true story, about a hapless salesman (Will Smith) who all but hits rock bottom on his quest for the golden cup (in this case, a high-paying job as a stockbroker). The elder Smith gives a good dramatic performance—just likable enough to wince at his struggle, just pitiful enough to see it coming around every corner—and he helps make the slick emotional manipulation of the screenplay go down without choking. The moral is awfully facile regardless of its inspirational strength, and the film presents an irresponsible implication that people who struggle to get by are just suffering from a string of bad luck, and success will come through grit and determination (plus, it doesn’t hurt if you’ve mastered solving a Rubik’s Cube). Sorta refreshing to see a movie that doesn’t view all Wall Street wheelers-and-dealers as amoral sharks in suits, but also sorta suspect, especially in the calculated way this guy reaches the proverbial promised land. Film debut for Will’s son, Jaden, and, well, if you can’t say anything nice…

49/100