Review of The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) by Seanh. — 28 Feb 2007

Obviously a film called "The Pursuit of Happyness" is going to be provocative, especially as we see so little of the man's inner journey, and so much of his running around with a x ray machine chasing a buck.

Good luck to the guy.. he had to put food on the table and provide for his son under difficult circumstances. But what happened to him when he got rich? Who is this man and why should we care as long as we dont get to find out anything about him other than the fact that he is a real tryer.

Is it too much to ask? I mean, I don't want to accuse the film of being shallow or anything. You don't have to get into politics or ideological whatnot to wonder what on earth was the point of the movie.

Or maybe you do. For a second I thought the film itself was actually mocking him when his son told him that joke...knock knock.. who's there?.. nobody.. nobody who?.. (silence). When his wife walks out on him, all he has to say is "YOU ARE SO WEAK!".

And off she goes. So does he think he is "strong" and if so, how does it make him feel to have to go through all this pride swallowing, dignity sapping stuff day after day? Who the hell is this guy and does he have anything to say? How did he run his company after all this? Was he a good boss and a good man to work for? etc etc Will there be a part 2 or will we never get the chance to find out.

Alas, this film goes no further.