It is Will Smith's lead performance in this that really stole the show and won me over. It really elevated this movie.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Sep 4, 2021

The Pursuit of Happyness reveals the soul-wasting nature of poverty and the lack of prospects for those condemned to economic oblivion.

Full Review | Sep 2, 2020

Will Smith can carry a film. And carry it he does, because without him, Happyness would founder in its own schmaltz.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 6, 2019

Director Gabriele Muccino has so overloaded the story with glib anecdotes that it's often depressing and, worse, monotonous. Everything that is admirable, and there is much, is down to Smith's verve.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 3, 2018

Save some of those Kleenex for The Pursuit of Happyness.

Full Review | Jan 5, 2018

The Pursuit of Happyness is a very Hollywood film, which could be good or bad depending on your point of view. It tries very hard to be profound and inspirational, but ultimately it's not up to the task.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 25, 2011

Counterfeit emotion and submerged racism

Full Review | Aug 28, 2009

Sap, sentiment, and hokey plot devices bog down an otherwise down to earth story.

Full Review | Apr 29, 2009

Smith turns in a career-capping performance, and director Gabriele Muccino ingeniously turns the material inward, cautioning us all to be grateful for what we have, for we're closer to the edge than we think.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 23, 2009

Will Smith is getting all the awards buzz, but it's his real-life son, Jaden, who transcends all expectations in Happyness.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 20, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: C | Oct 18, 2008

Even the glossiest of surfaces can't extinguish the genuine emotions running beneath them here.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 6, 2008

Few films so convincingly portray the titanic struggle that some people face day in and day out just to survive.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Feb 28, 2008

This is Will Smith's movie from start to finish and he carries it wonderfully.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

[A] calculatedly emotional, sterilizingly cleancut drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 23, 2007

Hokey title, but sometimes movie is good.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | May 10, 2007

In an effort to make a crowd-pleasing film, the horrors that Gardner must have experienced on the streets feel glossed over by the Hollywood machine.

Full Review | Mar 24, 2007

The American Dream as white, rich and all male.

Full Review | Mar 21, 2007

Will Smith gives the performance of his career in a movie for which phrases like "heart-warming" and "life-affirming" were made.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 19, 2007

Sem jamais tratar o papel como uma simples oportunidade de mostrar seu alcance dramático, Will Smith comove justamente por demonstrar o esforço de seu personagem para se conter em momentos de grande emoção.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 3, 2007