The Pursuit of Happyness

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John B Movie Title: The Pursuit of Happiness Director: Gabriele Muccino Distributor: Columbia Pictures Genre: Biographical Drama MPAA Rating: PG-13 USCCB Rating: A-III (Adults) My Rating: 5 Stars Primary Audience: Adults and older teens Year of Release: 2006 The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the actual tale of Chris Gardner (Will Smith), a struggling salesperson in San Francisco in the early 1980s. Chris has to take care of his little son and be homeless when his wife departs. Chris keeps going through a tough stockbroker internship, even when things go wrong, and in the end, he finds success and security. Balance “We can't judge whether something is good or bad, right or wrong if we're not willing to consider ‘the entire situation or circumstances’.” (Gan pg. 23) The movie shows adversity in a real way, without making it look good. Chris's struggles sleeping in restrooms, taking care of kids, and battling for chances—show the whole picture of poverty while also giving hope. The movie shows how suffering can be painful, but it also shows how endurance and fatherly love can give you strength. Attitude Awareness “What comes to us through the flesh – through our eyes, noses, ears, and hands – affects our spirit.” (Gan pg. 38) The movie doesn't use too much swearing, violence, or exploitation. It shows instead how hard it is to deal with emotional weight. Scenes like Chris hurrying to catch buses while carrying his baby make people feel for him without shocking them. It makes us recognize the value in everyday sacrifice. Dignity of the Human Person “In life we’re supposed to nurture our spirits, care for our bodies, give ourselves in love, & defend the dignity of others.” (Gan pg. 53) Chris's love for his son is the main point of the movie. He puts his child's health and happiness above anything else, even when they have nothing. This testament to parenthood shows that both Chris and his kid are worthy of respect. It shows that real love is stronger than poverty or societal humiliation. Truth-Filled “What we see through media can directly influence our opinions on how we view the world, ourselves, etc.” (Gan pg. 67) The movie is based on the life of a real person, which makes it true. It shows not just the problems that poverty causes in society, but also the fact that faith and determination can help people get through tough times. This reality tells people not to ignore the impoverished, but to acknowledge their strength and humanity. Inspiring "Through the media, we help God spread love to others." (Gan pg. 85) Chris Gardner's story is quite encouraging. His determination and unselfish love are examples of strength, hope, and kindness. He is not only financially successful, but also morally successful since he never gives up on his kid, even when it would have been easy to do so. This shows God's love through people's ability to endure. Skillfully Developed “The Church, like Hollywood, believes media should be skillfully developed.” (Gan pg. 99) The movie is quite well made. Will Smith gives one of his best performances, and the tale doesn't go too mushy by making everything genuine and relatable. The timing, tone, and music all add to the emotional effect without taking away from the plot. Motivated by and Relevant to Experience "Jesus told stories, he talked about sowing seeds and finding a pearl of great price.” (Gan pg. 117) The movie hits home because it shows the hardships that many people endure in real life, such losing a job, not having a stable place to live, or raising a family under stress. Chris's experience shows us that pain can be a blessing and that hard work pays out. It is a modern story about how important faith and dedication are. Conclusion The Pursuit of Happiness is a strong story about optimism, family, and never giving up. It's not only a narrative about going from poor to affluent; it's also about the honor of being a parent and how love wins over despair. 10/10 a powerful movie that I would suggest to everyone looking for inspiration. References: Gan, Jose Mario C. Infinite Bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media. Paulines Publishing, 2013. Muccino, Gabriele, director. The Pursuit of Happyness. Columbia Pictures, 2006. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/02/25 Full Review Mr. S The acting of Will Smith and Jada felt so natural that they really fit their roles perfectly. This is one of those movies where Will’s performance truly brought the story to life (and I know it’s based on a true story, just saying). I honestly thought they were going to get a happy ending though :(( Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/20/25 Full Review tiago m Filme muito bom e emocionante, o roteiro é simples mas é muito bem conduzindo, você se envolve e se emociona com a história. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/27/25 Full Review thiago s Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é mais ou menos, e só o Will smith ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacaninhas, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes e o drama melhorou o filme. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/15/25 Full Review Jace T Ever since I first watched The Pursuit of Happyness I have always loved it. It is a very well written story about a struggling and ambitious dad trying to chase his dream of being happy while struggling with the strife that comes his way. Will Smith plays an amazing role here, and Jaden Smith is amazing as his son in this movie. This is a powerful movie that has the potential to be transformative. Absolutely worth the watch. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/14/25 Full Review André Ferreira F Um belo filme que mostra ao espectador as dificuldades que várias pessoas passam na vida. O foco do filme é a tentativa de um pai que busca forma de dar a si e à sua família (em particular o filho) felicidade. Apesar de parecer que o filme dá demasiado ênfase ao dinheiro como meio de atingir felicidade, através dos olhos do filho podemos encontrar momentos onde a felicidade é encontrada mesmo sem boas condições de vida. O filme também mostra a importância de resiliência e foco para a superação de dificuldades. (avaliação: 8.5/10) Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Pursuit of Happyness

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