"The Pursuit of Happyness"... anyone see it? (possible SPOILERS)

[laurajetter]

I saw this the other day and wow... it really has affected me. It's been on my mind quite frequently. It really put some things into perspective for me; like maybe I shouldn't let the little things in life bother me so much. To see the hardships of what this man faced, with an unpaid job and trying to care for his son whom he loved so much. Very moving.

And the actors... I loved Will Smith already, but his little son (both in real life and in the movie) is SUCH a cutie and an AMAZING actor! He's one of the cutest little boys I've ever seen and the chemistry between them really brings life to this movie.

I like it so much I'm going to watch it again before I have to take it to Blockbuster. The fact that it was inspired by a true story made it that much better. A truly amazing story to say the least.

If you don't know the storyline, check it out here http://imdb.com/title/tt0454921/

This is a great movie, I highly recommend seeing it if you get the chance!

 

[johnsontrio]

I think this film has people divided into two camps. When the previews first came out, I thought it looked like a great movie. My Mom was one of the first people that I talked with that had seen it. She said "oh, it made me so anxious and I really didn't enjoy it".

By the time I saw it on video, the real life main character had been on Oprah and all the talk shows. I knew exactly what the movie was about. I watched it with my DD, 13. Towards the end, I actually absent-mindedly picked up the remote and tried to change the channel. I was getting very anxious watching it and wished it would end. By the time they were living in the bathroom I had gotten it and didn't need to see anymore.

Will Smith was great and I only hope that I don't have the same response to this film as I had to Born on the Fourth of July. I have never been able to watch Tom Cruise after that. That movie also made me extremely anxious.

Funny thing, several days after watching TPOH, I was getting my haircut. The movie came up in conversation with a client next to me saying how great it was. The gal that cuts my hair chimed in with almost the same exact sentiment as my Mom's and mine.

 

[PoohJen]

I worked with homeless people for several years in a major metro city and have served on the board of a local shelter for homeless families. When POH came out, the board was invited, along with current and former homeless in our city, as well as the mayor and other local gov't officials. After the film, there were a few speeches, including testimonials by some current and formerly homeless women. Holy cow. These ladies weren't 'public speakers' by any stretch of the imagination, but were captivating. Their stories were both courageous and scary, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

I thought the movie did a fairly good job of portraying the stress of living day to day as a homeless person, and also for showing HOW life circumstances can suddenly render you without a roof, income or supports.

I will say the character Will Smith was portraying was a very high functioning individual, and his story is not the norm for people who find themselves on the streets.

Still, it's a good film for generating information and understanding!

 

[Melisa1]

I thought it was a very good movie!

 

[tmasingo]

I was captivated by this movie and absolutely loved it. I cried through the majority of it, even though I knew the ending before going in. Having divorced a few years ago and becoming a single mom with a barely 1 year old (now 4), I sat there thinking "what if that were us?" which I think was what got to me so much. I agree with the OP...it definitely put a lot of things into perspective. The scene when the little boy dropped his doll (was it Captain America?) and the dad was yelling at him to hurry up and it got left behind....I lost it

 

[Turtle]

I loved this movie! Very inspirational. And can I just say, the part with the homeless man going on about the "time machine"...

 

[JoyG]

Loved this movie!

If you didn't watch the extras on the DVD you might not know that the man who inspired the movie made a cameo appearance at the end. He and Will Smith passed each other on the street at the end of the movie.

 

[mrsv98]

My family really did not like this movie. We love WIll Smith but the unrelenting depression was just too much. Yes, he was going thru hard times but he was getting clients and making contacts and such but you never saw anything positive. We felt like they played up all the negativity to make the happy ending have more punch.

 

[KimD]

I saw it and liked it but thought it was terribly emotional. Will & his son are amazing together.

I actually saw it this past April during our flight to WDW. After not sleeping for almost 48 hours (too excited, packing nightmares, canceled flight issues, etc) I find out this is the movie they are showing. I was happy at first because I knew I had wanted to see it but hadn't yet. Well let's just say after we were half way through my DD9 kept asking me why I was crying so much....after all we were going to my favorite place and that usually I am so happy they can't stand me . I tried to explain but she was just relieved to know it was the movie not because I wanted to go back home . It was also a little bit embarassing as I was almost sobbing at some points.

It was such an emotional movie and I am an emotional person but this really stayed with me too. Very eye opening. I don't know if my strong reaction was just the movie or that coupled with the extreme tiredness and stress relief or what but when I found out that it was being shown again on our return flight, I skipped it. I didn't want to be that sad again.

Emotions aside, it was a good movie, maybe someday I will be able to watch it again.

 

[trappednabox]

I saw it and liked it but thought it was terribly emotional. Will & his son are amazing together......


....Emotions aside, it was a good movie, maybe someday I will be able to watch it again.

i totally agree with this

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Loved the movie! OP I had the same thoughts as you! I let too much of the little stuff get on my nerves, when things could be so much worse.

 

[disneynutcase]

I love this movie. I bought about a week ago and have been watching it every other night. I cry every time I watch it. I really like Will Smith.

Jean

 

[cardaway]

Loved this movie!

If you didn't watch the extras on the DVD you might not know that the man who inspired the movie made a cameo appearance at the end. He and Will Smith passed each other on the street at the end of the movie.

I loved the movie as well.

There are even more extras on the exclusive set from Target. He was not only in the movie at the end, he was also there during most of the shoot to make sure they got it right. It was great seeing both of them in the extras. Great guys the both of them.

 

[emmabelle]

I loved Pursuit.

Slightly off topic but, I just rented Babel and that movie made me so nervous. Talk about depressing, I kept yelling at Brad Pitt "just get back on the bus!"

 

[kctwinmommy]

If you loved the movie, read the book!!! I think I saw the movie, but I honestly can't remember. I'm pretty sure I did, but having read the book, seen the previews, watched him on Oprah, now I'm not totally sure that I actually saw the movie!

I checked out the book for my vacation last year. I know, a little depressing for vacation reading, but I really wanted to. And knowing that I would have 8 days without my kids would give me the chance to actually read it!

Anyway, if you think what he went through in the movie was tough, you should read what he went through as a child. I don't believe they cover it all that much in the movie, but his childhood was horrific! It's just amazing that he survived those years to even make it to his adulthood struggles!