ACHIEVING DREAMS
The Pursuit of Happyness is for those who believe the individual creates happiness, not government
BY DOUG FRENCH

Hollywood isn't big on portraying heroes as self-starting, responsible individuals who realize a dream through hard work and tenacity. With lefties like Rob Reiner making movies, audiences are typically left to suffer through films that portray evil businessmen oppressing the common man, with enlightened government employees coming to the aid of the downtrodden. 

It's left to Italian director Gabriele Muccino to give us The Pursuit of Happyness, a breath of fresh air for those of us who believe the individual is charged with creating happiness, not government. The movie portrays the true story of Chris Gardner, a man who in the early 1980s was homeless, but rises to be a millionaire by the end of the decade. Along the way he has custody of his son, and must work feverishly to keep a roof over their heads. 

The real-life Chris Gardner was born in Louisiana, the second oldest of four children. He grew up working-class in black neighborhoods with an abusive stepfather. When he was about 6, Gardner's mother attempted to burn down the family's house with his stepfather in it, earning her a trip to state prison for four years. Gardner was then shuffled among relatives and foster homes, and saw his real father only twice: when he was a father himself, at age 28, and at his father's funeral. 

Although bright and mathematically gifted, Gardner barely graduated from high school. After a stint in the Navy, he ended up in San Francisco. And that's where the movie picks up the story (with some poetic license). Gardner had sunk all of the family's money into costly medical scanners that he tries hawking to doctors and hospitals. But he discovers too late that the machines are overpriced, and the sure thing he banked on has landed his family in debt. His wife is forced to work double shifts to make ends meet, and she resents Chris for gambling all of their savings on the enterprise (but she was all for it when they started). She soon leaves, and after months of trying, Chris lands a job as a trainee at stockbroker Dean Witter. 

But, the job pays commission only, and Gardner must live a double life. By day, a cold-calling broker trainee who carries a copy of Graham and Dodd's Security Analysis everywhere; by night staying at a church-run homeless shelter with his son. They would crash at flophouses or hole up in a far corner of Union Square. Bathing was often done in the sinks of public bathrooms. The soup kitchen at Glide Memorial Church provided meals. 

Only one in 20 trainees was offered a broker position, and despite being at a huge disadvantage being black, with no country club connections or college degree, Gardner wins the position by working harder than the rest. 

More than a few reviewers have criticized the film for portraying happiness as being rich. These reviewers evidently haven't experienced the happiness of achievement. "Perhaps even more disturbing is the movie's depression era attitude toward the class system," writes critic Jeffrey Anderson. "Here, the wealthy are mainly kind, generous folk and the poor are angry and vindictive."

John Buifuss, who writes for the Memphis Commercial Appeal, reveals his bias, summarizing the movie: "With Reagan hovering in the background as a sort of patron saint of economic self-determination and Captain America as the son's superhero of choice, the movie segregates its characters into two categories: Guitar-strumming hippie chicks, homeless nutcases, Chinese-speaking day care operators and non-Smith black folks - bad; rich white stock brokers with box seats at 49ers games - good."

New York Times (where else?) reviewer Manohla Dargis goes as far as to sneer: "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."

It's refreshing to know that the Times collectivist attitude is carried all the way down through its movie reviews. Dargis implies that no reasonable person could possibly think good choices and responsible behavior lead to success and happiness. 

The IRS and local police are portrayed in a very negative light in the movie, which is as inspiring as it is unusual. Conversely, individual drive and smarts are celebrated. Don't expect liberal Hollywood to reward The Pursuit of Happyness at Oscar time. But you should reward it with your patronage. LW