By Mark David Blum, Esq.

(Warning! Spoilers).

The latest Will Smith venture, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ is a long walk from his usual shoot-em-up-and-laugh-about-it-after vehicle. In opposite to such gems as Men in Black, this tale of a Black man struggling and determined gives you a glimpse into the darkness that awaits any one of us who dare to chase a dream. Though predictable in its ending; the film is a constant wind-sprint to the finish and leaves you breathless as you try and hold on.

Based on a “true story”, we meet a man who is constantly scheming and working to better his position in life. Not a con man or a thief, but honorable and determined, Smith’s character shows the pitfalls and hardships that come with risk taking, as well as doing the right thing at the right time. As with any great success, this family goes deeper and deeper into financial depression as the 40 pound burden carried everywhere in the film euphemistically represents the ball and chain enslaving the hero to his past failed dreams. Perhaps overstated throughout, the driving message is that a father is always loyal to his family and child and pays any price and makes any sacrifice to keep them safe and fed. Abandoned by his wife, we watch this father struggle to keep himself sane and his son safe as he chases his one big last final dream.

The real star of the movie is young Mr. Smith. The natural son of the lead, it is more through the eyes of the child that we witness the pain of the father. Parents suffer tremendously as they at times endure severe hardship to protect their children from pain. Smith does a wonderful job of making the point as he and his son find a safe cave from encroaching dragons and boiling lava.

Most of the movie does little to really show the harshness of homelessness and hunger. We see only snapshots of homeless motels, food lines, church dormitories, and riding BART for shelter, the message is strong. Well known Bay Area civil rights activist, Rev. Cecil Williams of Glide Memorial Church is out front on this issue in the film. With just quick glimpses, we see the throngs of Americans who go without bed or food – irrelevant of gender, age, or family. The problem of hunger and poverty is in your face in every frame. Smith’s chase for riches serves only as a backdrop.

Quoting repeatedly from Thomas Jefferson, the protagonist’s colloquies make note of Mr. Jefferson’s “pursuit” of happiness. It is argued that “happiness” is not a goal in that nobody can every really achieve true happiness and instead, happiness is experienced in the process of getting there; where ever “there” is. Again, you can see through the child’s eyes that the love of his father and lessons taught --- determination, perseverance, showing no fear --- the pursuit of happiness is limited only by yourself. As father tells his son on the basketball court, “don’t ever let anybody tell you that you cannot achieve something – not even me. If you want it, go get it.” That, I argue is the message of this film. Let the pursuit be honorable and be what lights you up. Happiness will find you.

Nothing that happens to this father and son detracts from their love and happiness. The son always trusts his father and the father never disappoints the son. No matter the situation, the happiness is found in the moments when one holds onto the other and both find their peace. After all, every parent knows that there is no shelter or food that is greater than the warm comfort of the love shared between parent and child.

For these reasons, I summarize this film as being a passionate yet predictable delving into how there is no “I” in “Happyness”. There can’t be; there has to be a reason or a motivation for doing what you do. To quote a line from another movie, “success is nothing without someone you love to share it with.”

The lack of the “I” in “Happyness” makes the metaphorical argument that your motivations have to be for love. As a running joke throughout the film, let me summarize by pointing out that I would save my money and wait for the movie to come out on video. Surely the “I” will then be back in your happiness when you see this relatively mediocre film for 1/10 the price on home video.