Cinerant

"Pursue" This

Sometimes, there are movies that are not perfect, but effect you in such a deep and profound way that you are blind to the narrative's shortcomings. The remake of "Father of the Bride" was probably the first movie like that for me. I loved it, was moved by it, and really didn't care about its shortcomings. I thought Steve Martin was hilarious, Diane Keaton demonstrated incredible wisdom, and Kimberly Williams--now Kimberly Williams-Paisley--was charming and fetching.

"The Pursuit of Happyness", while a better film than "Bride", is very similar. It's got a couple of tonal problems, a rash of coincidences that don't make sense at all, plus two chase sequences that seem from a different film. Nevertheless, I challenge anyone to see this movie and not feel inspired.

The movie's a simple story of Chris Gardner, who gets into a competitive (non-salaried) internship at Dean Whitter. Gardner wants to be a stockbroker so that he can make enough money to support his son. Despite suggestions to turn his son over to child services, or let him live with his mother, Gardner refuses to abandon his young son. So, they are forced to live in homeless shelters, spend nights on subway trains, and live a miserable existence, all the while, trying to pursue excellence and get to the top of his internship class. There's never any doubt how the movie's going to end. I mean, it's a big Hollywood movie with Will Smith. They don't make these movies to be downers.

Despite the ending you can see coming a mile away, the movie feels fresh and--dare I say it--necessary. Part of what separates "Happyness" from other "follow your dream" inspiration tales like "The Rookie", "Shine", or "A Beautiful Mind" is that unlike those other movies, Gardner's dream is 100% unselfish. The film argues that he's not trying to become successful for himself. Instead, he's trying to become successful to provide for his son--all so he can be an outstanding father.

One of the mantras I've heard over the last year is "think about what the audience needs". What stories are out there that an audience needs to see and hear? The only other story this year that I think an audience could have possibly needed more was "United 93." And even that is up for debate. Here is a film about an African-American male who refuses to abandon his son. No matter how overwhelming the odds stack up against him, he refuses to consider any alternative that divorces him from his child--even if only for one night. This depiction of African-American fathers runs so contrary to the stories and images we are being presented with in relation to the state of the African-American nuclear family, that you cannot help but be moved by them.

It might not be the best movie of the year, but it's guaranteed to leave you feeling happy.

posted by cinegod @ 2:27 PM