Jazmin Li
Will Smith is one of the most recognised actors in Hollywood, known for his roles in blockbuster films such as 'Men in Black' and 'Independence Day'. He has also worked with his son, Jaden Smith, in multiple films. One such film is the 2006 biographical drama 'The Pursuit of Happyness', which tells the story of a father and son's resilience and determination in the face of homelessness. Another film featuring the duo is the 2012 American drama 'Flight', in which Will Smith plays an alcoholic airline pilot who crash-lands his plane. While 'The Pursuit of Happyness' received positive reviews, 'Flight' was criticised for its inaccurate portrayal of an air crew by some pilots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | The Pursuit of Happyness |
| Year | 2006 |
| Genre | Biographical drama |
| Director | Gabriele Muccino |
| Starring | Will Smith, Jaden Smith |
| Plot | A salesman becomes homeless with his young son |
| Based On | True story of Chris Gardner |
| Awards | Oscar nomination for Best Actor |
| Other Movies with Son | After Earth, Men in Black II |
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What You'll Learn
Will Smith and son's first movie together
Will Smith is one of the most recognized actors in Hollywood, known for his roles in blockbuster films. He began his career as a rapper and later transitioned to acting. Smith has worked with his son, Jaden Smith, in multiple films. Jaden, in his early 20s, has already established himself as a talented and influential performer.
The first movie in which Jaden starred alongside his father was the 2006 biographical drama film "The Pursuit of Happyness". The movie is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a salesman who becomes homeless with his young son. Will Smith plays the role of Chris Gardner, while Jaden plays the role of Gardner's son, Christopher Gardner, Jr. The movie showcases the strong bond between a father and son and the lengths a parent will go to provide for their family.
The Pursuit of Happyness received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the performances of Will and Jaden Smith, others found the movie to be unexceptional. Despite the mixed reviews, the film was a commercial success, earning $27 million during its opening weekend and grossing over $100 million worldwide.
After The Pursuit of Happyness, Will and Jaden Smith went on to star in the 2013 science fiction film "After Earth". The movie is set in the distant future when humanity has colonized many planets in the universe. Will Smith plays the role of Cypher Raige, a high-ranking military officer, while Jaden plays the role of his son, Kitai Raige. After Earth received negative reviews from critics and audiences, with many criticizing the film's plot and performances.
In addition to The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth, Jaden Smith also made a brief cameo appearance in the 2002 film "Men in Black II", which starred his father. Jaden was only 4 years old at the time and appeared in a small scene during the chase sequence.
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The Pursuit of Happyness plot
The 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the inspiring life story of Chris Gardner, a self-made salesman-turned-stockbroker-turned-philanthropist. The film stars Will Smith as Gardner, alongside his real-life son, Jaden Smith, who plays Gardner's son.
The Pursuit of Happyness depicts Gardner's journey from a turbulent childhood, where he was predominantly separated from his parents, to his eventual success as a stockbroker. As an adult, Gardner enlists in the U.S. Navy, becoming a medical specialist, and later works as a salesman. He then decides to pursue a career in finance, taking on a training program and making endless cold calls to potential clients. Gardner's dedication pays off, and he passes his Series 7 Exam, securing a position at a firm and turning his life around.
The film showcases Gardner's unwavering determination and work ethic, as well as the strong father-son bond he shares with his young son. Despite facing homelessness and financial struggles, Gardner perseveres and eventually achieves success in the stockbroker training program. The film highlights the importance of hard work, resilience, and the pursuit of one's dreams.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular acclaim directed towards Will Smith's performance. The New York Times described the film as "a fairy tale in realist drag... an American dream artfully told, skillfully sold". The Los Angeles Times praised Smith's performance, stating that he "makes Gardner's plight compelling". The Pursuit of Happyness was recognised as an inspiring story of perseverance, showcasing the power of hard work and determination in overcoming life's challenges.
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The Pursuit of Happyness critical reception
The 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith, received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. The film is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman and single father who eventually achieves success on his journey toward the American dream.
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called the film "a fairy tale in realist drag... the kind of entertainment that goes down smoothly until it gets stuck in your craw... It's the same old bootstraps story, an American dream artfully told, skillfully sold." Dargis also commented on the performances of Will Smith and his son, saying, "How you respond to this man's moving story may depend on whether you find Mr. Smith's and his son's performances so overwhelmingly winning that you buy the idea that poverty is a function of bad luck and bad choices, and success the result of heroic toil and dreams."
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone awarded the film three out of four stars, noting that Will Smith's performance was worthy of an Oscar nomination. Travers wrote that Smith's role "needs gravity, smarts, charm, humor and a soul that's not synthetic."
Kevin Crust of the Los Angeles Times gave a more mixed review, stating that the film "dramatically lacks the layering of a Kramer vs. Kramer, which it superficially resembles... Though the subject matter is serious, the film itself is rather slight, and it relies on the actor to give it any energy." Crust also acknowledged Smith's appeal as a leading man and the film's ability to make the audience appreciate their own circumstances.
The National Review Online named The Pursuit of Happyness one of the best conservative movies, and Linda Chavez of the Center for Equal Opportunity praised it for providing an antidote to Hollywood films that depict the world of finance as filled with greed.
The film debuted at the North American box office, earning $27 million during its opening weekend and beating out heavily promoted films such as Eragon and Charlotte's Web.
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After Earth plot
After Earth is a 2013 American science fiction post-apocalyptic action-adventure film starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith. The film is directed by M. Night Shyamalan and is loosely based on an original story idea by Will Smith about a father-and-son trip in the wilderness. The plot is set 1,000 years in the future, where humans have been forced to evacuate Earth due to a massive environmental catastrophe and now live on a planet called Nova Prime.
The film follows the father-son duo, Cypher and Kitai Raige, who crash-land on the abandoned Earth while on a space voyage. Cypher, a legendary general, is seriously injured in the crash, with both his legs broken, and the main beacon for firing a distress signal is damaged. Kitai, a hopeful teenage ranger, must embark on a perilous journey across the hostile terrain to find the tail section of the ship, which contains a backup beacon that can be used to signal Nova Prime. Cypher gives Kitai a weaponized cutlass, a wrist communicator, and six capsules of a fluid to enhance his oxygen intake.
Kitai encounters numerous dangers on his mission, including highly evolved animals such as giant baboons and poisonous leeches. He must also defend himself from an extraterrestrial creature called an Ursa, which hunts by sensing its prey's fear. Meanwhile, Cypher guides his son through the communicator, sharing his expertise and providing emotional support.
As Kitai progresses in his journey, he discovers new things about himself and his father, which play a pivotal role in their eventual return home to their family. The film explores themes of courage, family bonds, and overcoming fear.
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After Earth critical reception
After Earth, the 2013 American science fiction post-apocalyptic action-adventure film starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith, received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the film's visuals and themes, others found it dull and ploddingly paced.
The film is based on an original story idea by Will Smith about a father-and-son trip in the wilderness, which was eventually reworked into a sci-fi setting. The movie is set 1,000 years in the future, where humans have evacuated Earth due to a massive environmental catastrophe and now live on another planet called Nova Prime. The story follows Cypher Raige (played by Will Smith), a veteran space soldier, and his teenage son, Kitai (played by Jaden Smith), who struggle to mend their strained relationship after their craft crashes on Earth's hostile surface.
Some critics viewed the film positively, with Roger Ebert describing it as "a lovely surprise" and "a moral tale disguised as a sci-fi blockbuster". Ebert praised the film's confidence, visuals, and themes, comparing the design of the spaceship to "the ribs of its hull made of wood and bone" and noting the appearance of an asteroid storm. Matt Zoller Seitz, a TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, also interpreted the film as a fable, stating that "fables teach".
However, the film also received negative reviews from other critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of just 12% and is described as "a dull, ploddingly paced exercise in sentimental sci-fi". Critics such as Manohla Dargis of The New York Times and Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times were particularly critical of the film's lack of nuance and subtlety. Sharkey compared Will Smith's performance in After Earth to his charismatic role in The Pursuit of Happyness, co-starring his son, expressing disappointment in the performance in the former. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter also criticized Smith's performance, calling it "the least interesting component in a madly overqualified cast".
In addition to the negative reviews of the film's pacing and script, there was also heavy criticism of Jaden Smith's performance. Christopher Orr of The Atlantic and Gary Wolcott of the Tri-City Herald commented on the young actor's lack of charisma and talent, with Alex Pappademas of Grantland referring to the film as "a parade-float tribute to nepotism". However, Gary Susman of Time magazine countered these nepotism allegations, arguing that "in Hollywood, such nepotism is no sin; in fact, it's often a selling point".
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Frequently asked questions
The Pursuit of Happyness.
Jaden Smith.
Chris Gardner.
Christopher Gardner Jr., Chris Gardner's son.
After Earth and Men in Black II.
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