The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Chris Gardner is a bright and talented, but marginally employed salesman. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the two of them.

Gabriele Muccino

Director

Will Smith

Christopher Gardner

Thandie Newton

Linda

Jaden Christopher Smith

Christopher

Alan Frakesh

The Cab Driver

Jay Twistle

Martin Frohm

Walter Ribbon

Mrs. Chu

World’s Greatest Dad

Screenplay

Producer

Producer

Producer

Executive Producer

Producer

Producer

Executive Producer

Executive Producer

Executive Producer

Associate Producer

PETER TRAVERS - December 12, 2006

Will Smith is on the march toward Oscar. How can Academy voters resist Smith, with gray flecks in his hair, in a true story (well, inspired by a true story, meaning it's been tightened and prettied up) about a homeless single dad and his son. Smith plays Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman trying to unload bulky bone scanners (don't ask) while his depressed wife, Linda (Thandie Newton), works scut jobs. She splits for New York, leaving hubby and their five-year-old son, Christopher…

More Reviews from Rolling Stone »

While The Pursuit of Happyness could very easily be subtitled The Pursuit of Sappyness, the terrific father-son dynamic between Will and Jaden Smith is enough to make for an effective tearjerker--barely.

Story

Even if you're one of the 19 other people in a competitive internship at Dean Witter with Chris Gardner (Will Smith), you gotta root for the guy. Life's beaten him up but not got him down. He lugs his computer-monitor-sized bone density scanner all over San Francisco, hoping to sell just…