The Pursuit of Happyness: Movie Review and Analysis

In ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ I believe Will Smith did an exceptional performance in his performing abilities. The movie exceeded the action and romantic films Will Smith is known for. He illustrated the position of Chris Gardner, trouble, struck down man dealing with the most upsetting time of his life. The acting becomes so actual that his exponential overall performance provides a genuine understanding of the personality of Gardner, who is so financially unstable. The movie reveals Gardner’s everyday struggle when the director shows the scene where Chris Gardner and his son wait in hopelessness in front of a shelter to manage a resting place for the night. Besides Will Smith, his son Jaden Smith performed the position of Gardner’s son Christopher very well because his natural innocence and adorableness not only helped keep the emotional drama consistency throughout the movie but also kept the audience hooked to the screen. The director made a spectacular selection of Jaden to play the son, which replicates the affectionate, real father/son relationship. The film reveals that Christopher was the source of strength for Gardner to stay despite all the hardships he encountered. That at the end of it all, the closing chapter of his life exhibits the happiness part when he finally got a job offer as a stockbroker and went on to construct his very own firm earning thousands of thousands of dollars.

Another thing I noticed that the movie directors did well on was capturing the motion pictures of the movie. The film used shots to actualize the director’s vision. Throughout the film, a range of close-up shots was used to catch the facial expressions of the actors. For example, in the scene in which both Gardner and his son would stay the night locked inside a public restroom, the child would sleep quietly with his head laid on his father’s lap. The sounds used throughout the movie, the sound of saddening music in the background to initiate the viewer to feel empathy towards the characters were on point. The lighting was gentle to contrast with the setting. As well as the uncommon spelling of ‘happyness’ which I believe has hidden meanings. My interpretation is that the ‘y’ in the phrase made it important for us to notice that happiness is not simply achieved but has to be pursued. Analyzing the film, it is clear that the plot of the film brings out the battle phase of the lead character while the remaining one focuses on the part of happiness. The most specific content used in the movie is the theme of the pursuit of happiness.

One positive feature of the film is that it illustrated an inspirational message in pursuing one’s dream for his loved ones since the story is based on the life of Chris Gardner’s struggle through poverty before becoming a businessman. One negative feature I would say is disappointing is the fact that the film has a predictable plotline. This story is cliche, but it’s a reality that occurs to many people, and this movie manages to hold the audience’s attention because many can relate to it. What makes the movie more compelling is its emotional intensity throughout the entire story. I would recommend watching it since the film teaches us a lot about handling life despite a lot of negative circumstances. This movie could be an inspiring story and could change a life. I say this because I believe that movies and books deliver a strong influence on individuals and can impact a person significantly. Many people throughout generations and generations have all learned and implemented something seen in movies into their lives. Therefore, I would not recommend a bad movie for anyone. That being said ‘Pursuit of Happyness’ is a great movie if you don’t mind crying and if you enjoy a happy ending. This movie will leave you feeling satisfied at the end.

Works Cited:

1. Baer, J. (2013). Coca-Cola's Content 2020 Advertising Strategy. Convince & Convert. https://www.convinceandconvert.com/content-marketing/coca-colas-content-2020-advertising-strategy/
2. Bragesjö, F. (2011). Coca-Cola: History, Advertising and the American Dream. Culture Unbound, 3, 413-435. Crossland, K. (2019). The History of Advertising: A Comprehensive Timeline, From Print to Digital. Hubspot. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/history-of-advertising
3. Gaffney, J. (2019). How Coca-Cola Became the King of Advertising. HousingWire.
4. Green, C. (2019). Coca-Cola's Evolution of Ads: From Polar Bears to Sustainable Development. Triple Pundit.
5. Kleinberg, A. (2014). The Evolution of Advertising. Inc.
6. Nudd, T. (2014). History of Advertising: How We Got Here. Adweek.
7. Raye, A. (2015). A Brief History of Coca-Cola Advertising Slogans. The Daily Meal. https://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/brief-history-coca-cola-advertising-slogans
8. Sabatier, G. (2019). Digital Advertising: Past, Present, and Future. Millennial Money.
9. Stanton, J. W. (2007). Coke's Recipe for Success. Harvard Business Review, 85(11), 30-32.