“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. Not even me. Alright? You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.”
– Chris Gardner (The Pursuit of Happyness)
Regardless of your personal feelings towards Will Smith, there is no denying that he has taken part in some of the most legendary or inspirational films in cinematic history. Whether they be fiction or non-fiction, his resume is one for the Hollywood record books. I would argue that The Pursuit of Happyness is among his better works.
The Pursuit of Happyness is an underdog story that is based on a real man that lived in the bay area and faced a lot of the issues that are depicted in the film. The harsh reality is a lot of the circumstances were even more difficult in real life. For those of you who have never lived in the bay area…..it is not the nicest or most supportive place…..despite whatever politics you subscribe to.
San Francisco, CA is crowded, expensive, fast-paced, and unforgiving. One misstep can land you on the street, or worse. Financial mistakes are not so easy to recover from already and you add in a high cost of living and a child……..it is no easy feat.
The Pursuit of Happyness follows a man in a difficult situation that wants nothing more than to do right by his son and the film shows a lot of the trials and tribulations that the real Chris Gardner had to face. If anything, they sugar-coated the real situation to make it more digestible for the public and profitable for the big screen.
He was tenacious in his path to success and faced every hardship head-on despite fear or misgivings. He pushed through every obstacle and never let anything hold him back. The most inspirational part was that he also made sure that the important lessons were bestowed upon his impressionable son in a way that was meant to encourage him to dream.
Journeyman's Legacy 