Film Review of
The Pursuit of Happyness
Director: Gabriele Muccino (2006)
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Certificate: 12A
Reviewed by Andrew Wooding
Spoiler notice: If you read on will become aware
of some of the content of the film.
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Main Characters:
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Dozens of films come out each month, and I always try very carefully to pick the right one for Wooding Watches, a film that might have something to say about the human condition from a spiritual perspective. The Pursuit of Happyness sounded promising - the title conjures up images of someone on a life-changing quest for God and soul. Now that I've seen it, I wish I hadn't bothered. It takes a lot to offend me, but the apparent message of this film felt like a slap to my sensibilities. I would feel easier watching a dozen of the most gruesome horror movies than having to sit through this again.
Will Smith isn't the problem. Credit where credit is due - this was a great performance, probably the performance of his lifetime. It's hard to believe that this was the same actor from the Men in Black movies and Independence Day. I genuinely cared for him and his plight as he fought to win against all the odds. His relationship with his son Christopher (played by his real-life son, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) was also very touching, and is probably the best aspect of the film. Chris Gardner, Will Smith's character, was ambitious and driven, but he always put the safe-keeping of his son first, a good example to us all.
On the downside - and this might just be me - I am a father of a young boy myself and consequently found it difficult to watch some of the scenes where they were homeless, struggled to pay for the next meal and especially when Christopher lost his favourite toy because they were rushing to find a room for the night. This is your classic rags to riches story, so watching this film could be torture at times. One hour and fifty minutes of setback after setback, with just five minutes of triumph at the end. Every time something apparently good happened to Chris Gardner, I was waiting for the rug to be pulled out from underneath him, and sure enough it happened without fail. At least my reaction shows I cared about his character.
But the ending … oh dear. After months of poverty, staying in homeless shelters and sitting alongside the lowest-of-the-low on buses and trains, Chris Gardner becomes rich beyond his wildest dreams and all his problems are solved. He never has to meet another homeless person again. Only the best for him from now on. He has fully realised the American Dream and can spend the rest of his life counting his millions. You never see Chris Gardner befriending any of the homeless he is living with. Chris doesn't achieve his goals through community. He is the self-made man, a strong individualist.
I do not know about the real Chris Gardner (this film is loosely based on his life story). It might be that the real-life Chris is a great humanitarian, who donates to charities and supports homeless work all round the world. But this isn't mentioned in the film. The film-makers want us to leave the cinema remembering the words "multi-million" and the various shots of American flags and quotes from the Declaration of Independence. The bulk of this story is set in 1981, during the materialistic, "looking after number one" eras of Reagan and Thatcher. I had hoped we had moved on from this in the last quarter of a century, but the box office success of this film seems to prove me wrong … and for that I have to give The Pursuit of Happyness a big fat zero.
Through the lens of Christian Faith
Some key themes: What is true happiness? What did Jesus have to say about money?
"Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me'" (Matthew 19 v 21).
"Jesus looked at his followers and said, 'You people who are poor are happy, because the kingdom of God belongs to you'" (Luke 6 v 20).
"Religion that God accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence" (James 1 v 27).
It is unintentionally appropriate that the spelling of happiness in the title of this film is wrong (based on a piece of graffiti in the film's opening minutes) - appropriate, because the understanding of happiness in this film is wrong as well. The film's title is a quote from the Declaration of Independence, as written by Thomas Jefferson: it is the right of every American to experience "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". The emphasis is on the word "pursuit" - that happiness is something you have to pursue, to fight for.
Well, I'm fine with that. If you believe in something strong enough - maybe an ideal, or your own personal dream - then of course it is worth fighting for. What I question is the film's definition of happiness - material wealth and success. Yes, it was great that Chris Gardner was the one out of twenty trainee stockbrokers who was chosen for a position at the company, but what about the nineteen that weren't chosen? It was great that Chris Gardner didn't have to live in a shelter any more, but what about the homeless people that remained there?
I remember once being horrified by a supporter of "Reaganomics" being interviewed on the radio. He seemed to be saying that anyone in America could make it rich if only they applied themselves and worked hard, and the reason poor people were poor, and homeless people were homeless, was because they were lazy and hadn't applied themselves. The implication was: "They deserve everything they get!"
Yes, I applaud success. I have no problem with people being rich and successful. And I was the first to cheer when Chris Gardner, after all his hard work, made it through his internship and was chosen to be the one. But the fact remains that for every person who succeeds, there are countless others who don't. And what should be our attitude to them? Is it their fault? There might be mental health issues, family circumstances, problems with addiction - thousands of other reasons. God wants us to look out for the marginalised in our society. Mark Russell, the CEO of Church Army, is passionate about reaching "the least, the last and the lost". The conclusion of this film flies in the face of that, and also, I believe, the teachings of Jesus.
Yes, there is some spirituality in this film. Some great songs by Stevie Wonder on the soundtrack, including "Jesus Children of America" and "Higher Ground". There is a worship service where the preacher tells his flock that they can "climb any mountain". And at one point, young Christopher paraphrases the well known sermon illustration of a drowning man praying for God to rescue him. Over the course of the day, two ships come along, but both times the man says, "I don't need you, I've prayed for God to rescue me." When the man dies and goes to heaven, he says to God, "Why didn't you rescue me?" God replies, "I sent those two ships!"
The spirituality in this film is very individualistic and success-orientated: you can achieve your goals if you try hard enough. You can reach that higher ground, you can climb that mountain, you can use whatever comes your way (like ships) to rescue yourself. It is telling that millions of people believe that "God helps those who help themselves" is a quote from the Bible, when it is no such thing!
So, where does true happiness lie? Is it even achievable? Jesus showed the way by living his life for others. It is about humility. About giving to the poor. It is about the values of the kingdom of God. I will leave the last words to Jesus. Read the following from the Sermon on the Mount, see how many times Jesus uses the word "happy", and try and see if any of it fits in with the message of The Pursuit of Happyness. I think you might struggle!
"Those people who know they have great spiritual needs are happy, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Those who are sad now are happy, because God will comfort them. Those who are humble are happy, because the earth will belong to them. Those who want to do right more than anything else are happy, because God will fully satisfy them. Those who show mercy to others are happy, because God will show mercy to them. Those who are pure in their thinking are happy, because they will be with God. Those who work to bring peace are happy, because God will call them his children. Those who are treated badly for doing good are happy, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be happy. Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets who lived before you" (Matthew 5 v 3-12).
Discussion questions . . .
- Should Will Smith get the Oscar for this film? What is your favourite Will Smith movie?
- Have I been too harsh with my review? Was I wrong? I would love to read your views!
- If you were a multi-millionaire, how would you use your money?
To discuss this further why not leave a message in the discussion forum.
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