The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Release date: 2006-12-15
Country: USA
Language: English|Cantonese
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Overbrook Entertainment
Genre: Drama, Biography
Rating: 8.0/10
Length: 1h 57min

Storyline

Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a "bone density scanner". He feels like he has it made selling these devices. However, they do not sell well as they are marginally better than x-ray at a much higher price. As Gardner works to make ends meet, his wife leaves him and he loses his apartment. Forced to live out in the streets with his son, Gardner continues to sell bone density scanners while concurrently taking on an unpaid internship as a stockbroker, with slim chances for advancement to a paid position. Before he can receive pay, he needs to outshine the competition through 6 months of training, and to sell his devices to stay afloat.

Plot Keywords

hippie, hit by a car, homeless shelter, hospital, rubik's cube, troubled marriage, unhappy marriage, ambition, american football, marriage, motel, stadium, eviction, break up, time machine, hare krishna, title spoken by character, based on true story, rags to riches, 1980s

Short Review

We may wonder if happiness can be bought this way, and whether the film being sold to us isn't a slightly suspect package, but Smith, sublime and moving, sells it regardless.