We all have our ups and downs in life. It's how we get through the "downs" that defines who we are. This movie is a good reminder of that.

Based on a true story, it stars Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a guy who finds himself jobless and homeless at age 30, struggling to give his son a good life. It begins with Chris working as a salesman, lugging around suitcase-sized bone density scanners to hospitals and doctors' offices, hoping to make a sale. But the scanners are expensive, and most physicians don't need them.

Chris invested his life savings in these scanners, and his girlfriend, Linda (Thandie Newton) is fed up with working double shifts to keep the bills paid. Their 5-year-old son, Christopher (Smith's real-life son, Jaden) spends a lot of time in daycare. One day, Linda decides to move east and live with her sister. Hard to fathom that she'd leave her son with someone she feels is a "loser," but so be it.

Chris and his son soon find themselves with no home, no car, and little hope for income. They end up running around the city, all their hope resting on the sale of a bone density scanner. They spend one night in a train station bathroom, Chris' foot pressed up against the door as thugs pound on the outside. Eventually, they end up at a homeless shelter, racing to get in line by 5 p.m. each day, to be assured of a bed that night.

Then Chris learns about an opening at a brokerage firm, and applies for the job. In a series of mishaps, everything that could go wrong does. He ends up in the company's boardroom in grubby clothes and a paint-stained face. But through sheer persistence and stubbornness, he convinces the suits that he can handle an internship. Keep in mind Chris has no experience and no education beyond high school.

Then he learns the internship is unpaid, leaving he and Christopher to fend for themselves until the position starts paying the rent – but there's no guarantee of that.

THE WRAP-UP: While this movie is a little over-the-top with sentiment and emotion, it's worth seeing just for Will Smith's performance. He hits every nuance just right, and makes you want to go home and take advantage of EVERY opportunity that comes your way. And if they don't come, go out and make them happen. Chris never gives up, even when one bad thing after another happens. This movie is a great testament to the power of perseverance.

As for the title’s oddly-spelled “happyness,” the word is painted that way on the outside of a day care center, and it inspires Chris to ponder whether happiness truly exists. For him, it does; but for millions of other homeless people, it never will.

PARENTS SHOULD KNOW: Profanity consists of one "f" word, and a few other expletives. The movie also includes tense family situations, homelessness, and several sad scenes where anyone but Chris might have cracked under the pressure.

SCORE: 3.5 out of 4 Reels