
Gubbeen: The Story of a Working Farm and its Foods
Darina Allen and Giana Ferguson
Book
Gubbeen is a 250-acre, traditional farm on the most south-westerly tip of Ireland and is renowned...

Creative Tangram—BabyBus
Games and Education
App
Put together all the different shapes into something colorful, meaningful, and fun. You can make a...

Ski School Advanced
Sports and Lifestyle
App
Ski School Advanced combines inspirational, professionally produced video ski lessons with...

Diabetes Cookbook+ by Food4Health
Food & Drink and Medical
App
The need for a healthy diet is growing and growing. This is particularly the case for people...

Mountain Bike Rider Magazine
Lifestyle and Magazines & Newspapers
App
LIMITED TIME OFFER: 30-DAY FREE TRIAL WHEN YOU PURCHASE AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION. Download the app...

My Post Office - Educational Game for Children
Education and Games
App
“Mom, what is post office?” “Where did these packages come from?” Let us answer these...

Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life
Book
Anne Lamott meets Elizabeth Gilbert in this inspirational, side-splittingly funny exploration of the...

Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) in Movies
Jan 29, 2018
Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is just trying to make money and take care of his family. After investing his entire life savings in a company that goes nowhere, he decides to risk it all and go out for an unpaid internship with a stockbroking company. The message here is extremely powerful, a message he delivers to his son about halfway through the film: If you want something, go get it. And, in the process of getting it, don't let anyone tell you that you can't have it.
The film revolves Gardner's struggle to work for no pay and still manage to take care of his son. You can't help but admire his hustle. Despite numerous shortcomings and failed attempts, he continues to push toward his vision. It's inspiration at its finest. And, just as people warned me, it's also heartbreaking to watch. I mean, the guy can't seem to catch a break. Ever. He takes a step forward then eight back. I appreciated the film being delivered in this fashion because of how real it felt. I never got the sense of sugarcoating. This man was broken, yet he found a way to piece himself back together.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Jaden Smith's performance as Chris jr. He carries the innocence and sadness of a kid that's a victim of a situation he doesn't seem to fully understand. While it's heartbreaking to see them struggle, it's heartwarming to watch them struggle together.
My one complaint would be the movie ending a bit too abruptly for my taste. Other than that, what a great film! I give it a 92.