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The Pursuit Of Happyness [2006] | ![The Pursuit Of Happyness [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wMreQu3nL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Gabriele Muccino
Actors: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Thandie Newton, Brian Howe
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £2.85
You Save: £17.14 (86%)
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Rating:  51 reviews
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 113 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5035822198036
ASIN: B000O59B42
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: May 14, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
A heartwarming film that demonstrates how good, hard-working people can become homeless almost overnight, Pursuit of Happyness is a tour-de-force showcase for Will Smith, who convincingly portrays a down-and-out dad trying to better his family's life. Smith, who usually is cast in effortlessly boyish roles (Men in Black, Independence Day), is wonderful in the film--even in the scenes that shamelessly tug at viewers' heartstrings. Based on the true-life story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman forced at times to shelter his young son (played by Smith's adorable look-alike offspring Jaden Smith) in a men's room, there is little suspense to the film in terms of Chris' outcome. (His story and eventual success a successful and wealthy Chicago businessman was well-publicized on the newsmagazine show 20/20.) And let's face it, Hollywood's not too keen on making feel-good movies with unhappy endings. The beauty (and suspense, to a certain extent) of this film is in the way the story is told. Though he is constantly rushing around to get to appointments and pick up his child, things do not happen quickly for Chris. When he accepts an internship with a prestigious stock brokerage firm, there's a catch: The position is unpaid, suitable more for trust-fund children than single parents with no other source of income. In many scenes, the viewer panics along with Chris, wondering how he's going to feed his child. While Smith and his son, Jaden, share many tender moments together, Thandie Newton has the thankless role of playing Chris' shrill wife, who deserts her family early in the film. It's not a particularly challenging part for the talented actress, and her departure doesn't impact the storyline much at all. As for the movie's misspelled title, it's inspired from a scene in the film. (Seeing a mural drawn by the children at a daycare center, Chris points out to the proprietor that "happiness" is spelled incorrectly. She notes that it doesn't matter how the word is written--just that the kids have it.) With Pursuit of Happyness, Smith has come out of his safety zone and, in turn, ends up playing his most heroic role to date. --Jae-Ha Kim
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| Customer Reviews:
 Not at all Happi March 30, 2007
Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States)
11 out of 25 found this review helpful
Will Smith is the main reason I went to see this film. He stars as Chris Gardner. Back in 1981, his life was hard. His girlfriend/wife (I've heard both, and the movie never makes it clear) is working double shifts to support the two of them and their son Christopher (Jaden Smith). Chris, meanwhile, is working as hard has he can to sell bone density machines. He's already bought them, so he needs to sell them to get his life savings back.
One day, he happens to meet a successful stock broker. Chris is fascinated by the wealth this guy has, so he begins to pursue it as a new career, not knowing all the stress that is involved. He learns of an internship offered by Dean Witter, and tries to get into the program despite his lack of formal education.
Meanwhile, his life is going downhill. His landlord is tired of waiting for the rent and his wife decides to leave for New York. Can he balance being a single dad with a spot in this competitive internship?
The first strike against the movie is the trailer. That's right. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen this movie. I half expected that when I went to see it, so that's not my main complaint.
I went to the film expecting an inspiring true story. I got a true story. While the theme "If you work hard, you can accomplish anything" does come out, the movie focuses on all the struggles. It got depressing long before the end with very little to balance it out.
And, of course, there are Chris's actions. While I did spend most of the film rooting for him to succeed, there were times it was hard. He risked too much since he had to care for his son. And he didn't seem to be able to keep track of his machines either.
What I can't fault is Will Smith's performance. He is a powerful actor who does an excellent job bringing Chris to life. Jaden Smith does a decent job playing the son, he good but certainly not the next big child star. Their bond was touching and provided some of the lighter moments.
I really had looked forward to this movie, but in the end was highly disappointed.
 Heart-wrenching December 28, 2007
O. Doyle (Ireland)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
I'll admit that I'm not a Will Smith fan at all and only picked this movie up as I'd see practically everything else in the video-store. I was more than a little surprised therefore to find that I actually enjoyed The Pursuit of Happyness.
The synopsis is clear-cut so there's no need for me to rehash it. What I will stay is that Will Smith came into his own in this movie. Up until now he's played the cliched cocky, kick-ass good-guy (Bad Boys, Men in Black, Independence Day) but in The Pursuit of Happyness he took on a role a million miles away from what we're used to seeing him in. It's an emotional, roller-coaster of a movie that needed an amazing performance by somebody to make it believable......Will Smith gave that performance.....I'd even go so far as to say it was the performance of a lifetime for him. He is the central character in this movie so he pretty much had to carry the can alone....and carry the can he did. I should mention however that Will's son Jaden has a great career ahead of him if his performance is anything to go by.
This is a heart-breaking movie of one mans struggle to provide for his son which sees a proud man loose it all and have to depend on the charity of others to survive. Alone one man could survive....with a child in tow it's 100 times harder. The Pursuit of Happyness makes you thankful for what you've got by showing you how easy it is to loose it all. A fantastic movie with a fantastic cast and an amazing performance by Will Smith.
Will taking them on!! May 25, 2007
Skywalker
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
I have no idea how this missed the oscars. Better than Forest Whitaker, yeah why not i like Forest Whitaker but this time Will Smith, because to me he can now do anything, from I Robot to this he can do Ali, basically he can do anything which is asked of him he has come a long way since Fresh Prince which I hated. Will Smith next to Leonardo DiCaprio are the best hollywood have got right now nobody comes close to them.Will's/Gardner child in this film is played brilliently by Will's own son Jaden Smith, and I have to say it but he should have got at least best supporting role nominee, and if he had won good surely better than who ended up with it Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine", Please!! how.
The story, is a true story about Chris Gardner a man who goes through hell, (we have all been there at some point), to 'make it through the golden gate bridge'. He has to do his internship, look after his kid plus sell enough to get money and food on the table sometimes not getting any!.We see his struggles and hope he makes it.
This is a lovely film. And I think its one for anyone to buy.
pleasantly surprisingly solidly good film June 25, 2007
M. O. HAYNES (UK)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
I was very unsure about watching this film as it looked to me like sentimental tripe, I didn't like the spelling in the title and I didn't like the fact that Will had roped in his son to play the boy in the film because seemed such a nepotistic move. However, BIG however, this is not sentimental tripe and the casting of Smith Jnr as the Chris Gardner's son was spot on - it makes the whole thing play so much more naturally. It turns out it's all based on a true story which I didn't know and the spelling of 'Happyness' isn't some stupid Hollywood marketting thing - it's part of the story. Duh!
Will Smith has shown he can do the acting 'thang' with his great performance in 'Ali' and this film again proves it - he's not just a brash action / comedy actor - he has a good range and depth to his performance.
If you like stories about 'the American dream' then this is a shining example of the genre done well. My hat goes off to Will Smith.
It's not easy to climb up the social ladder April 6, 2007
Classic Movie watcher
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
It's nice to see Will Smith taking such a serious role, for a change, and execute it so well. I have heard my friends praising Jaden Smith's performance. Yet it's the story and Will Smith that grabbed my attention.
It's sometimes uneasy to see how Chris made ends meet in the movie and he did it all for his son. The good work of charity organizations, the people who responded to his phone calls and bought his scanners helped. (I begin to think of all those promotion phone calls I turned down.) Chris's sheer determination, perseverance and guts to survive his 6-month internship were again not an easy act to follow. It took every bit of his intelligence to pull it off. This is a feel good movie to make us reflect how much we already have; how a little help can make a big difference to others' lives. A thought provoking movie indeed.
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