Is it just me or does the Fresh Prince seems hell-bent on heroism these days? Let’s see- ‘The Pursuit of Happyness, ‘Hancock’, and now most recently ‘Seven Pounds’ all feauture our favourite man in black as the ultimate do-gooder, a man that suffers for the sake of others, an isolated other-wordly being that saves us all from the clutches of fate. Well that’s lovely Will but how about some old fashioned Christmas cheer during the- all be it recession blasted- season to be jolly?
Jolly is one thing this film is definately not, given its subject matter. Without giving too much away, it’s a weepie. Suicide, blindness, congenital heart failure, domestic abuse- all the components of a Christmas carol, yes they are. Chronologically scrambled, the direction of the film centers primarily around Ben Thomas, supposedly as IRS officer (although later we are informed otherwise, thanks to Gabriele Muccino giving us a titbit of much needed information), and why he is doing good deeds for the people who need it most. Ridden with suspense, Muccino gives us a good ride for the first hour and then we get a little angry. We see what he’s doing but it’s bloody irritating.
Rosario Dawson saves this ode to Smith when it begins to flail- she is a joy to watch. Playing a woman with heart failure with potentially only weeks to live, she lets Smith’s character into her life and in turn, changes his around. Dawson is blessed with a face so expressive that emotion simply flows uninhibited from her very unclogged pours. She emanates goodness and I believe that she brings out the most honest performance ever given by Smith. For a few brief moments, fleeting as they were, the emotion in his eyes was real.
Not exactly the movie of 2008, but it might be the film of Smith’s career thanks to Miss Dawson. If you fancy braving the cold, take your hankies. Oh and look out for Woody Harrelson and Barry Pepper- they might take the movie up to an 8, although the Irish Critic feels extra generous at Christmas.