Published:February 7th, 2007 00:30 EST

The Pursuit of Happyness Review

The testament of the human spirit continues with Will Smith in the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness. 

Based on a true story, the film takes place in 1981 San Francisco, where Chris Gardner (Smith) is a salesman trying to sell medical equipment to doctors.  So far, things aren`t going so well for him.  He`s behind on the rent, his wife (Thandie Newton) is struggling to make ends meet for them and their young son (Jaden, Smith`s real-life son).  But things go from bad to worse.  Gardner`s wife leaves him to raise their child alone after Gardner`s family is evicted from their apartment.

It is during this tough time that Chris starts applying for a stock brokerage firm.  He gets the position, but the problem is that it is an unpaid internship.  Still, through fierce determination and charisma, Chris manages to rise above the odds to become a successful, self-made businessman.

Like Rocky Balboa, The Pursuit of Happyness still shows overcoming the odds and perservering through the human spirit.  Though he had become a single father who was broke and homeless, Gardner never let anything -- or anyone -- stand in his way.  He was determined to succeed.  Like the Italian Stallion, this man had faith, character, integrity, and a willingness to believe in himself as well as a belief that anything is possible.  Like Rocky and Muhammed Ali, another real-life role Smith has played, Gardner is a true fighter who gets knocked down, but gets back up again and wins.  In my book, that is what makes a hero.

See why Will Smith got nominated for an Academy Award in The Pursuit of Happyness, still in theatres right now.