The Pursuit of Happyness [Blu-ray] | ![The Pursuit of Happyness [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510Us1W9S2L._SL500_.jpg) | Director: Gabriele Muccino
Actors: Will Smith, Thandie Newton, Jaden Smith, Brian Howe, James Karen
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $28.95
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Seller: goHastings
Rating:  332 reviews
Sales Rank: 30744
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 117 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: 043396179691
UPC: 043396179691
EAN: 0043396179691
ASIN: B000N6U0EC
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: March 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (2006/BR/WS 2.40 A/DD 5.1/PCM
Amazon.com
A heartwarming film that demonstrates how good, hard-working people can become homeless almost overnight, Pursuit of Happyness is a tour-de-force showcase for Will Smith, who convincingly portrays a down-and-out dad trying to better his family's life. Smith, who usually is cast in effortlessly boyish roles (Men in Black, Independence Day), is wonderful in the film--even in the scenes that shamelessly tug at viewers' heartstrings. Based on the true-life story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman forced at times to shelter his young son (played by Smith's adorable look-alike offspring Jaden Smith) in a men's room, there is little suspense to the film in terms of Chris' outcome. (His story and eventual success a successful and wealthy Chicago businessman was well-publicized on the newsmagazine show 20/20.) And let's face it, Hollywood's not too keen on making feel-good movies with unhappy endings. The beauty (and suspense, to a certain extent) of this film is in the way the story is told. Though he is constantly rushing around to get to appointments and pick up his child, things do not happen quickly for Chris. When he accepts an internship with a prestigious stock brokerage firm, there's a catch: The position is unpaid, suitable more for trust-fund children than single parents with no other source of income. In many scenes, the viewer panics along with Chris, wondering how he's going to feed his child. While Smith and his son, Jaden, share many tender moments together, Thandie Newton has the thankless role of playing Chris' shrill wife, who deserts her family early in the film. It's not a particularly challenging part for the talented actress, and her departure doesn't impact the storyline much at all. As for the movie's misspelled title, it's inspired from a scene in the film. (Seeing a mural drawn by the children at a daycare center, Chris points out to the proprietor that "happiness" is spelled incorrectly. She notes that it doesn't matter how the word is written--just that the kids have it.) With Pursuit of Happyness, Smith has come out of his safety zone and, in turn, ends up playing his most heroic role to date. --Jae-Ha Kim
Extras from The Pursuit of Happyness 
Behind the scenes footage of
The Pursuit of Happyness
high bandwidth | 
Chris Gardner:
"On Being Studied By Will Smith"
high bandwidth | 
Will Smith And Jaden Smith: "On Will Always Being In Character"
high bandwidth
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Beyond The Pursuit of Happyness on Amazon.com 
More Films Starring Will Smith | 
More Films About Fathers & Sons | 
The Book |
Stills from The Pursuit of Happyness (click for larger image)
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 332
 Moving and inspiring, even if nonreplicable February 7, 2010
Irfan A. Alvi (Towson, MD USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
First, let me just quickly say that the acting, plot construction, scenery, and other standard elements are very good in this movie. There are no significant flaws which threaten to ruin the movie.
Turning to the story itself, as most people know, this movie is "inspired by a true story" involving a man who faces enormous financial hardships, to the point where he and his son wind up homeless. The problems he encounters are so relentless that it becomes almost too painful to watch. But he's gifted at math, has good interpersonal skills, and works incredibly hard, so he eventually winds up with a nice job in a San Francisco financial firm, and later goes on to start his own firm and become a multi-millionaire.
A story like this will naturally appeal to an American audience because it taps in to the meritocratic notion that the American dream is accessible to most of us if we're willing to work hard and make sacrifices. But we can question how much this moving and inspiring story can really serve as a model for the masses. I would say not much. In a country of 300 million people, you'll always be able to find stories like this, but they're the exception, not the norm, and of course that's what makes this story worthy of a movie. Moreover, the main character clearly had abilities and a work ethic far beyond the norm, so it took very special strengths to prevail over such especially bad luck. But I do think this story illustrates the upper limits of what's possible, and most people can draw the lesson that working hard will still provide at least some benefit, even if the benefit falls short of one's ultimate dreams.
Another lesson which is perhaps equally important is that children may value and need our love and attention more than the material resources we can provide. That's certainly the case in this story, and I suspect that this can be generalized to most children. Something to consider for dads (and moms) who are preoccupied with putting in long hours away from home in order to make a lot of money ...
Highly recommended to anyone looking for an uplifting story, even if few people can replicate an ending as happy as this one.
 Disappointed February 5, 2010
Lynn Calzada
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I ordered The Pursuit of Happyness on Dec. 7th and I did not receive it until Dec. 22nd. The movie was a Christmas present and when it was opened, the movie had a big scratch on it. Very disappointed. I have ordered many books on Amazon and this was the first time I had ordered a movie. Other people have told me that they have ordered movies and did not have any problems. I guess that I chose the wrong vendor.
Pursuit of Happyness February 5, 2010
H. M. Lauer (CT)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a great film, but there is foul language in it. Not advised for middle school age unless you preview and censor it prior.
The Pursuit of Happyness December 18, 2009
Arnita D. Brown (USA)
Will Smith gives a stinging performance. Very heartfelt and compelling. This is one amazing film. this acting once again is flawless in this movie.
 Good motivational story (but not what I'd call a family film) December 5, 2009
D. COLLIER (Brownwood, TX United States)
When it comes to motivational and inspirational pursue-your-dreams kind of movies THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS may very well take home the prize. I was amazed first by Will Smith's persuasive portrayal of Chris Gardner and second by the character's unending drive in the face of a barrage of setbacks, disappointments, along with the most unpredictable attacks from Murphy. Long after most people would have thrown in the towel, he keeps on, stays focused, and doesn't rest until his dream of becoming a successful stockbroker and a providing father are complete.
It's a message badly needed in our world today. It's also a strong portrayal of a father which is rarely seen in Hollywood today (as Hollywood, for whatever reason, is almost never father-friendly). I think my favorite line in the film (also in the trailer) is when after Chris's son says he wants to become a famous basketball player someday, and Chris almost unconsciously gives his son the typical reflex-reply that most parents would give: Don't practice too much, there's too many people better than you, etc. (I'm paraphrasing.) Then he catches himself and remembers his own seemingly hopeless situation and adds, "Don't let anybody ever tell you that you can't do something--not even me!"
My major problem with this film (many would probably call it a small thing) is the plain-sight portrayal of the F-word on the side of the son's daycare building. I know they're trying to say it's in a rough neighborhood, but they could have conveyed that without putting an expletive on the side of the building. Later we hear the boy repeat the word, asking if it's spelled correctly. Lately, it seems Hollywood enjoys having small children use profanity in films. This principle is incompatible with family entertainment.
Come to think of it, there's no reason, why they couldn't have clean the film up and given it a PG-rating.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 332
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