The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

“The Pursuit of Happyness” is an engaging drama with two brilliant performances and some deeply moving themes at its centre.

Will and Jaden Smith are both fantastic here, it was an excellent idea to cast a real life father-son duo to play Chris Gardner and his son Christopher; the two actor’s natural on-screen chemistry adds to the realism and intense emotions of “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

At its heart, “The Pursuit of Happyness” is a story about family, homelessness and a parent doing their best for their child, even when they’re struggling to survive. The filmmakers did a splendid job of crafting a tale that’s filled with heavy, dour and hopeless moments, but one that also includes uplifting and joyful scenes.

I do have a few criticisms with “The Pursuit of Happyness”, it drags in the second act and some sequences could be considered slightly too melodramatic, but it’s still a good movie despite these flaws.

In conclusion, “The Pursuit of Happyness” is a engaging drama with a solid performance from Will Smith and a surprisingly deep one from Jaden Smith; it may not break the biopic mould, but I’d still recommend it.