“The Pursuit of Happiness”

Will Smith shows he is a master actor in this one. He plays a single parent chasing a seemingly impossible dream. Based on the life of self-made millionaire Chris Gardner, this drama is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Gardner, played by Will Smith, never expected his wife (Thandie Newton) to leave him when he applied for a competitive, unpaid internship at top stock brokerage Dean Witter, yet that’s exactly what happened. Left to raise his 5-year old son, played by Smith’s real life son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Gardner fights through more than hard times to reach the top. The problems then begin to pile up when Gardner is evicted from his apartment and has his money seized by the IRS among other things.

Despite all odds appearing to be against him, he continues to live up to the advice he gives to his son. “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something…You got a dream, you gotta protect it… If you want something, go get it. Period.” Living off of money he earns trying to sell bone density scanners, he studies and stays focused on his vision of the American Dream.

Smith’s excellent performance makes this movie one worth seeing, while heart wrenching scenes make a hankie worth having.