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ThePursuitofHappynessFilmAppreciationDirectorGabrieleMuccinoWriterStevenConradStarsWillSmithJadenSmithDirectorGabrieleMuccinoActorWillSmithActorJadenSmithWriterStevenConradCastsBasedonatruestoryaboutamannamedChristopherGardner.GardnerhasinvestedheavilyinadeviceknownasaBoneDensityscanner.Hefeelslikehehasmadethesedevices.However,theydonotsellastheyaremarginallybetterthanthecurrenttechnologyatamuchhigherprice.AsGardnertriestofigureouthowtosellthem,hiswifeleaveshim,heloseshishouse,hisbankaccount,andcreditcards.Forcedtoliveoutinthestreetswithhisson,Gardnerisnowdesperatetofindasteadyjob;hetakesonajobasastockbroker,butbeforehecanreceivepay,heneedstogothrough6monthsoftraining,andtosellhisdevices.StorylineIn1981,SanFranciscosalesmanChrisGardner(WillSmith)investshisentirelifesavingsinportablebonedensityscanners,whichhedemonstratestodoctorsandpitchesasahandyquantumleapoverstandardX-rays.ThescannersplayavitalroleinChris'slife.Whileheisabletosellmostofthem,thetimelagbetweenthesalesandhisgrowingfinancialdemandsenragehisalreadybitterandalienatedwifeLinda(ThandieNewton),whoworksasahotelmaid.Thefinancialinstabilityincreasinglyerodestheirmarriage,inspiteofthemcaringfortheirfive-year-oldson,ChristopherJr.(JadenSmith).PlotPlotWhiledowntowntryingtoselloneofthescanners,GardnermeetsJayTwistle(BrianHowe),amanagerforDeanWitterReynoldsandimpresseshimbysolvingaRubik'sCubeduringataxiride.AfterJayleaves,Gardnerlacksmoneytopaythefare,andchoosestorun,resultinginthedriverchasinghimintoaBARTstation.Gardnerboardsatrainbutlosesoneofhisscannersintheprocess.HisnewrelationshipwithJayearnshimthechancetobecomeaninternstockbroker.PlotThedaybeforetheinterview,Gardnergrudginglyagreestopainthisapartmentsoastopostponebeingevictedduetohisdifficultyinpayingtherent.Whilepainting,Gardnerisgreetedbytwopolicemenathisdoorstep,whotakehimtothestation,statinghehastopayforhisnumerousparkingticketshehasaccumulated.Aspartofthesanction,Gardnerisorderedtospendthenightinjail,complicatinghisschedulefortheinterviewthenextmorning.HemanagestoarriveatDeanWitter'sofficeontime,albeitstillinhisshabbyclothes.Despitehisappearance,heimpressestheinterviewers,andlandsanunpaidinternship.Hewouldbeamongst20internscompetingforapaidpositionasabroker.Don'teverletsomebodytellyouyoucan'tdosomething.notevenme.Yougotadream,yougottaprotectit.Peoplecan'tdosomethingthemselves,theywannatellyouyoucan'tdoit.Ifyouwantsomething,gogetit.Period.SayingPlotGardner'sunpaidinternshipdoesnotpleaseLinda,whoeventuallyleavesforNewYorkbecauseshemightgetajobathersister'sboyfriend'snewrestaurant.AfterGardnerbluntlysayssheisincapableofbeingasinglemom,sheagreesthatChristopherJr.willremainwithhisdad.GardnerisfurthersetbackwhenhisbankaccountisgarnishedbytheIRSforunpaidincometaxes,andheandChristopherareevictedPlotHeendsupwithlessthan$22,resultinginthembeinghomeless,andareforcedatonepointtostayinarestroomataBARTstation.Otherdays,heandChristopherspendnightsatahomelessshelter,inBART,or,ifhemanagestoprocurecash,atahotel.Later,GardnerfindsthebonescannerthathelostintheBARTstationand,afterrepairingit,sellsittoaphysician,thuscompletingallhissalesofhisscanners.Disadvantagedbyhislimitedworkhours,andknowingthatmaximizinghisclientcontactsandprofitsistheonlywaytoearnthebrokerposition,Gardnerdevelopsanumberofwaystomakephonesalescallsmoreefficiently,includingreachingouttopotentialhighvaluecustomers,defyingprotocol.Onesympatheticprospectwhoisatop-levelpensionfundmanagereventakeshimandhissontoaSanFrancisco49ersgame.Regardlessofhischallenges,heneverrevealshislowlycircumstancestohiscolleagues,evengoingsofarastolendoneofhisbossesfivedollarsforcabfare,asumthathecannotafford.PlotPlotConcludinghisinternship,Gardneriscalledintoameetingwithhismanagers.Oneofthemnotesheiswearinganewshirt.Gardnerexplainsitishislastdayandthoughttodressfortheoccasion.Themanagersmilesandsaysheshouldwearitagaintomorrow,lettinghimknowhehaswonthecovetedfull-timepositiongivinghimhis5dollarsashepromised.Fightingbacktears,Gardnershakeshandswiththem,thenrushestohisson'sdaycaretoembraceChristopher.Theywalkdownthestreet,jokingwitheachotherandarepassedbytherealChrisGardner(inabusinesssuitappearance).TheepiloguerevealsthatGardnerwentontoformhisownmultimillion-dollarbrokeragefirm.Theyjustdon'tmakemanythisgood.TheaudienceandIcried,laughed,cheeredandapplauded.TheclimacticsceneisaspowerfulandcatharticasTheShawshankRedemption'sgoldenmoment.WillSmithisterrific,hissonJadenisjustperfect,andThandieNewtonputsinaconvincingsupportingact.Themovie's1980sSanFranciscoisabsorbingandauthenticwithoutstealingtheshow.Bestofall,ifyouareathinker,thismoviewillchallengeyourvisionsoffamily,businessandsociety.Ononehand,thefilmreinforcesthegreatAmericanmythoftheself-mademanandequalopportunity.Mythsarenotnecessarilyfalsesimplyforbeingmyths--wecanmakesomeofthemtruebychoice,andourbeliefinthismythstillhelpsmakeAmericagreat.Free-marketcapitalismisnotthecuretoallills--surelyitisthesourceofmanyills--butitdoesopensocialdoorsthatnothingelsecanevenbudge.Ontheotherhand,ifyoucanleavethismoviewithoutaburningindig