The Pursuit of HAPPYness

The central theme of this movie is the clichéd pursuit of the American dream. Its story revolves around the main character, a young salesman by the name of Chris Gardner, who is struggling to maintain a stable job, in order to make ends meet and support his family (wife and 5-year old son). However, despite the fact that he is talented, hard-working, and is desperately trying to keep his family together, his wife decides to leave in the end. This leaves Chris alone with his son.
He then gets an internship at a stock brokerage firm, for which he initially gets no salary (for a period of 6 months). However he still sticks to this job hoping that once he is done with the program he will be able to provide a more prospering future for his little boy. Meanwhile the two soon get evicted from their house and end up being homeless. They have to go to shelters, sleep in toilets and use bus stations as refuge.

What is really interesting and touching about this movie is the close bond that the father and son both share (this may be thanks to the fact that the two actors are really related which makes it easier for them to act out such feelings). Chris is willing to do anything it takes to provide a better future for his child.

However in some sense, I’d say that the movie is also overly optimistic. Although we do know that it is based on a true story, it seems too ideal in certain aspects. There are millions of talented yet poor people out there, and hard work and effort are often just too little for them to make it. You don’t just see very many people who are overly poor becoming millionaires in the future (yes, it does happen but is very rare and sometimes movies like that just stray too far from reality). However I’d say that this movie is also a good motivator because it stresses on the fact that if you try hard, you will make it one day and you will be successful, regardless of your social background, race or current job position. In a way, it is like “a dream come true”, a happy ending.