POISON SCOOTER

Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith does his best to hide the fact that he is perhaps the wealthiest African American man alive and plays a poor, eventually homeless father in this tearjerker. What I did learn from watching Smith's performance are the following:

1. Smith can NEVER play a villian. The man just exudes a genuine likability that cannot be shaken.

2. Smith is more than just a clown. There are some humorous scenes in this film, but not enough to say this is even a dramedy and Smith is very capable playing earnestness.

I'm not saying he will earn an Oscar for this movie, but I'm certain he will get a nomination. The movie itself isn't amazing, it's pretty standard issue Hollywood. But Smith makes the movie better than it would have been by putting himself into the movie from producing, to casting his own son as his onscreen co-star and giving us one hell of a performance. And that kid of his is not only cute as a button, but a pretty strong actor in his own right. I've seen this before where a kid does their best work along side a parent, Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon comes to mind. Perhaps having the parent there to coach you along in scenes is the key to success as a child actor?

In any case, I think you can do worse with movie choices. You will be entertained for sure, but don't expect to be blown away.

posted by Scooter @ 2:55 PM