Pursuit of Happiness

This movie is really cute, isn't perfect but better than most romantic comedies. Sure, you will know how it ends the minute Annabeth Gish appears on screen, but the ride is so enjoyable and true to life, you won't care. At least, I didn't! The dialogue is true-to-life and witty enough that it keeps you interested, and there are a few unexpected twists with the B & C stories along the way as well. The cast is really talented, especially Gish, and the supporting players (in particular Cress Williams and Liz Vassey, who play another unlikely couple in the film), keep it moving. And, seeing the great Jean Stapleton (of Edith Bunker fame) utter the sentence "You look like sh*t" to Frank Whaley was priceless! I suggest you crack a bottle of wine, snuggle up to your significant other, and enjoy it.

I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. The plight of two friends who believe that they are not for each other is timeless. I love how the movie ended. I was surprised to see Amy Jo Johnson, especially in the bedroom scene. She has grown up beyond the power rangers, that's for sure.

The cast is full of pretty, but next door-type of people. I watched this movie during the week after work and dinner one night. A very nice and pleasant surprise. A very "cool" vibe throughout the film. Whaley is a good actor. The whole cast deserves applause.

I wanted to like this movie but it just kept being bad. The leading man was was so indecisive and emotionally flat with such a bored expression, it was hard to watch him. I started hoping he would just get on that plane to Seattle early on and stay out of the rest of the picture. The younger woman he is chasing calls hin unexpectedly to go to lunch and he acts like a immature nervous teenager on the phone. Earlier he throws a party to cover for lie he told her. He's too old to be acting like that. His lifetime relationship with another woman could have a been a real interesting idea, but they didn't seem very close to each other at all. At least she had an emotional scene in this film. The rest of the characters were also superficial, self-absorbed, and uninteresting. Hopefully, LA life isn't really like portrayed by these clueless zombies. "Everything happens for a reason" is repeated in this movie as if it explains anything, but comes off as the cliche that it is. I ended up wishing I had watched one of those slasher horror movies instead, where characters are killed off one by one.

A very touching drama featuring the winsome and appealing Frank Whaley and Annabeth Gish as longtime platonic friends who support each other through their romantic troubles. A believable story of how people who have all the advantages still struggle to find the right person to spend their lives with. Their relaxed comfortable friendship contrasts starkly with the strained relationships they each have with their romantic interests. Some wonderfully restrained scenes in which they finally begin dealing with their feelings for each other.

Yes, the movie isn't very good. It's pretty sentimental stuff, nothing original or even memorable...BUT...the cast is so appealing that it's flaws don't really matter much. Annabeth Gish is positively luminous. People will say this is a woman's movie, but when male viewers see Annabeth Gish, they won't care about the plot, dialog or other characters. And she's not the only looker. Amy-Jo Johnson is beautiful, and there are at least two others I can think of.

The story is fairly predictable, but the acting is quite good. It's not a bad way to spend an evening, especially if you're spending it with someone you care about. It would be a fine date movie for 20 or 30-somethings.